functions of pdb files and PE？

Question

I am new in windows programming.

I have learned that the ".pdf" file related to a ".dll" or ".exe" file has some symbols( like addresses of functions、parameters). So I can get the function list from the ".pdb" file.

But I also have learned that I can get a ".dll" or ".exe" file's functions infomation by parsing its PE struct(which contains import tables and export tables related functions of the file)

I want to know what the difference between these two function list I get through two ways above.

Does this equation hold?

eg:"function list from user32.pdb" = "function list from user32.dll's import table and export table"

Answer 1

A .pdb file is more than just a list outward visible functions. It may carry a whole slew of debugging information, that's being stripped from a release binary.

Say you're a developer who wants to debug a program crash, or single step a process created from a release binary. For that to work, the debugger needs some way to connect the amorphous blob that is a stripped release binary, with the original source files and annotate the running process image with symbol information. .pdb files carry that information, that goes beyond mere exported symbols.