Overview
readelf presents the various components of an ELF file in a human-readable format. It is an essential tool for developers and system administrators to understand the structure of binary files and for debugging purposes.
Key Features
The core types of information provided by readelf.
- View ELF header information
- View section header information
- Analyze symbol tables
- Display dynamic linking information
- Check relocation information
- View program header (segment) information
Key Options
readelf offers various options to inspect specific parts of an ELF file.
Information Type Selection
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Description:
`readelf` Executes the command.
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Usage Examples
Demonstrates how to extract various information from ELF files using readelf.
View ELF Header Information
readelf -h /bin/lsDisplays the ELF header information for the /bin/ls executable.
View Section Header Information
readelf -S /bin/bashDisplays all section header information for the /bin/bash executable.
View Symbol Table Information
readelf -s /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6Displays symbol table information for the shared library libc.so.6. (Path may vary by system.)
View All Information
readelf -a /usr/bin/vimDisplays all ELF-related information for the /usr/bin/vim executable.
Tips & Notes
Useful tips and points to consider when using readelf.
Applicable Files
readelf can be applied not only to executable files but also to all ELF format files such as .o (object files), .so (shared libraries), and .a (archives).
- Executable files (e.g., /bin/ls)
- Shared libraries (e.g., /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6)
- Object files (e.g., .o files generated after compilation)
Comparison with Other Tools
Differences compared to other utilities for ELF file analysis.
- objdump: Provides lower-level information including assembly code and is useful for disassembling binary files.
- nm: Primarily specialized for symbol (function, variable) information, concisely showing symbol types and addresses.
- ldd: Displays the list of dynamic libraries that an executable or shared library depends on.