<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>readelf - GNU Binary Utilities</title>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html">
<meta name="description" content="GNU Binary Utilities">
<meta name="generator" content="makeinfo 4.13">
<link title="Top" rel="start" href="index.html#Top">
<link rel="prev" href="dlltool.html#dlltool" title="dlltool">
<link rel="next" href="elfedit.html#elfedit" title="elfedit">
<link href="http://www.gnu.org/software/texinfo/" rel="generator-home" title="Texinfo Homepage">
<!--
Copyright (C) 1991-2019 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3
or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;
with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no
Back-Cover Texts.  A copy of the license is included in the
section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License''.

-->
<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css">
<style type="text/css"><!--
  pre.display { font-family:inherit }
  pre.format  { font-family:inherit }
  pre.smalldisplay { font-family:inherit; font-size:smaller }
  pre.smallformat  { font-family:inherit; font-size:smaller }
  pre.smallexample { font-size:smaller }
  pre.smalllisp    { font-size:smaller }
  span.sc    { font-variant:small-caps }
  span.roman { font-family:serif; font-weight:normal; } 
  span.sansserif { font-family:sans-serif; font-weight:normal; } 
--></style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="node">
<a name="readelf"></a>
<p>
Next:&nbsp;<a rel="next" accesskey="n" href="elfedit.html#elfedit">elfedit</a>,
Previous:&nbsp;<a rel="previous" accesskey="p" href="dlltool.html#dlltool">dlltool</a>,
Up:&nbsp;<a rel="up" accesskey="u" href="index.html#Top">Top</a>
<hr>
</div>

<h2 class="chapter">14 readelf</h2>

<p><a name="index-ELF-file-information-152"></a><a name="index-readelf-153"></a>
<!-- man title readelf display information about ELF files -->

<pre class="smallexample">     <!-- man begin SYNOPSIS readelf -->
     readelf [<samp><span class="option">-a</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--all</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-h</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--file-header</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-l</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--program-headers</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--segments</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-S</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--section-headers</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--sections</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-g</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--section-groups</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-t</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--section-details</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-e</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--headers</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-s</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--syms</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--symbols</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">--dyn-syms</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-n</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--notes</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-r</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--relocs</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-u</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--unwind</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-d</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--dynamic</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-V</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--version-info</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-A</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--arch-specific</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-D</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--use-dynamic</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-x</span></samp> &lt;number or name&gt;|<samp><span class="option">--hex-dump=</span></samp>&lt;number or name&gt;]
             [<samp><span class="option">-p</span></samp> &lt;number or name&gt;|<samp><span class="option">--string-dump=</span></samp>&lt;number or name&gt;]
             [<samp><span class="option">-R</span></samp> &lt;number or name&gt;|<samp><span class="option">--relocated-dump=</span></samp>&lt;number or name&gt;]
             [<samp><span class="option">-z</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--decompress</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-c</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--archive-index</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-w[lLiaprmfFsoRtUuTgAckK]</span></samp>|
              <samp><span class="option">--debug-dump</span></samp>[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev,=trace_aranges,=gdb_index,=addr,=cu_index,=links,=follow-links]]
             [<samp><span class="option">--dwarf-depth=</span><var>n</var></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">--dwarf-start=</span><var>n</var></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">--ctf=</span></samp><var>section</var>]
             [<samp><span class="option">--ctf-parent=</span></samp><var>section</var>]
             [<samp><span class="option">--ctf-symbols=</span></samp><var>section</var>]
             [<samp><span class="option">--ctf-strings=</span></samp><var>section</var>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-I</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--histogram</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-v</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--version</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-W</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--wide</span></samp>]
             [<samp><span class="option">-H</span></samp>|<samp><span class="option">--help</span></samp>]
             <var>elffile</var>...
     <!-- man end -->
</pre>
   <!-- man begin DESCRIPTION readelf -->
   <p><samp><span class="command">readelf</span></samp> displays information about one or more ELF format object
files.  The options control what particular information to display.

   <p><var>elffile</var><small class="dots">...</small> are the object files to be examined.  32-bit and
64-bit ELF files are supported, as are archives containing ELF files.

   <p>This program performs a similar function to <samp><span class="command">objdump</span></samp> but it
goes into more detail and it exists independently of the <span class="sc">bfd</span>
library, so if there is a bug in <span class="sc">bfd</span> then readelf will not be
affected.

<!-- man end -->
<!-- man begin OPTIONS readelf -->
   <p>The long and short forms of options, shown here as alternatives, are
equivalent.  At least one option besides &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">-v</span></samp>&rsquo; or &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">-H</span></samp>&rsquo; must be
given.

     <dl>
<dt><samp><span class="env">-a</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--all</span></samp><dd>Equivalent to specifying <samp><span class="option">--file-header</span></samp>,
<samp><span class="option">--program-headers</span></samp>, <samp><span class="option">--sections</span></samp>, <samp><span class="option">--symbols</span></samp>,
<samp><span class="option">--relocs</span></samp>, <samp><span class="option">--dynamic</span></samp>, <samp><span class="option">--notes</span></samp>,
<samp><span class="option">--version-info</span></samp>, <samp><span class="option">--arch-specific</span></samp>, <samp><span class="option">--unwind</span></samp>,
<samp><span class="option">--section-groups</span></samp> and <samp><span class="option">--histogram</span></samp>.

     <p>Note - this option does not enable <samp><span class="option">--use-dynamic</span></samp> itself, so
if that option is not present on the command line then dynamic symbols
and dynamic relocs will not be displayed.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-h</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--file-header</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-file-header-information-154"></a>Displays the information contained in the ELF header at the start of the
file.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-l</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--program-headers</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--segments</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-program-header-information-155"></a><a name="index-ELF-segment-information-156"></a>Displays the information contained in the file's segment headers, if it
has any.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-S</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--sections</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--section-headers</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-section-information-157"></a>Displays the information contained in the file's section headers, if it
has any.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-g</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--section-groups</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-section-group-information-158"></a>Displays the information contained in the file's section groups, if it
has any.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-t</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--section-details</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-section-information-159"></a>Displays the detailed section information. Implies <samp><span class="option">-S</span></samp>.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-s</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--symbols</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--syms</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-symbol-table-information-160"></a>Displays the entries in symbol table section of the file, if it has one. 
If a symbol has version information associated with it then this is
displayed as well.  The version string is displayed as a suffix to the
symbol name, preceeded by an @ character.  For example
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">foo@VER_1</span></samp>&rsquo;.  If the version is the default version to be used
when resolving unversioned references to the symbol then it is
displayed as a suffix preceeded by two @ characters.  For example
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">foo@@VER_2</span></samp>&rsquo;.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">--dyn-syms</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-dynamic-symbol-table-information-161"></a>Displays the entries in dynamic symbol table section of the file, if it
has one.  The output format is the same as the format used by the
<samp><span class="option">--syms</span></samp> option.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-e</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--headers</span></samp><dd>Display all the headers in the file.  Equivalent to <samp><span class="option">-h -l -S</span></samp>.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-n</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--notes</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-notes-162"></a>Displays the contents of the NOTE segments and/or sections, if any.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-r</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--relocs</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-reloc-information-163"></a>Displays the contents of the file's relocation section, if it has one.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-u</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--unwind</span></samp><dd><a name="index-unwind-information-164"></a>Displays the contents of the file's unwind section, if it has one.  Only
the unwind sections for IA64 ELF files, as well as ARM unwind tables
(<code>.ARM.exidx</code> / <code>.ARM.extab</code>) are currently supported.  If
support is not yet implemented for your architecture you could try
dumping the contents of the <var>.eh_frames</var> section using the
<samp><span class="option">--debug-dump=frames</span></samp> or <samp><span class="option">--debug-dump=frames-interp</span></samp>
options.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-d</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--dynamic</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-dynamic-section-information-165"></a>Displays the contents of the file's dynamic section, if it has one.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-V</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--version-info</span></samp><dd><a name="index-ELF-version-sections-information-166"></a>Displays the contents of the version sections in the file, it they
exist.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-A</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--arch-specific</span></samp><dd>Displays architecture-specific information in the file, if there
is any.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-D</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--use-dynamic</span></samp><dd>When displaying symbols, this option makes <samp><span class="command">readelf</span></samp> use the
symbol hash tables in the file's dynamic section, rather than the
symbol table sections.

     <p>When displaying relocations, this option makes <samp><span class="command">readelf</span></samp>
display the dynamic relocations rather than the static relocations.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-x &lt;number or name&gt;</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--hex-dump=&lt;number or name&gt;</span></samp><dd>Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal bytes. 
A number identifies a particular section by index in the section table;
any other string identifies all sections with that name in the object file.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-R &lt;number or name&gt;</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--relocated-dump=&lt;number or name&gt;</span></samp><dd>Displays the contents of the indicated section as a hexadecimal
bytes.  A number identifies a particular section by index in the
section table; any other string identifies all sections with that name
in the object file.  The contents of the section will be relocated
before they are displayed.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-p &lt;number or name&gt;</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--string-dump=&lt;number or name&gt;</span></samp><dd>Displays the contents of the indicated section as printable strings. 
A number identifies a particular section by index in the section table;
any other string identifies all sections with that name in the object file.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-z</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--decompress</span></samp><dd>Requests that the section(s) being dumped by <samp><span class="option">x</span></samp>, <samp><span class="option">R</span></samp> or
<samp><span class="option">p</span></samp> options are decompressed before being displayed.  If the
section(s) are not compressed then they are displayed as is.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-c</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--archive-index</span></samp><dd><a name="index-Archive-file-symbol-index-information-167"></a>Displays the file symbol index information contained in the header part
of binary archives.  Performs the same function as the <samp><span class="option">t</span></samp>
command to <samp><span class="command">ar</span></samp>, but without using the BFD library.  See <a href="ar.html#ar">ar</a>.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-w[lLiaprmfFsoRtUuTgAckK]</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--debug-dump[=rawline,=decodedline,=info,=abbrev,=pubnames,=aranges,=macro,=frames,=frames-interp,=str,=loc,=Ranges,=pubtypes,=trace_info,=trace_abbrev,=trace_aranges,=gdb_index,=addr,=cu_index,=links,=follow-links]</span></samp><dd><!-- This file contains the entry for the -w/-debug-dump (readelf) and -->
<!-- W/-dwarf (objdump) option that is common to both readelf and objdump. -->

     <p>Displays the contents of the DWARF debug sections in the file, if any
are present.  Compressed debug sections are automatically decompressed
(temporarily) before they are displayed.  If one or more of the
optional letters or words follows the switch then only those type(s)
of data will be dumped.  The letters and words refer to the following
information:

     <!-- Please Keep This Table Alpha Sorted. -->
          <dl>
<dt><code>a</code><dt><code>=abbrev</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_abbrev</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>A</code><dt><code>=addr</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_addr</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>c</code><dt><code>=cu_index</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_cu_index</span></samp>&rsquo; and/or
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_tu_index</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.

          <br><dt><code>f</code><dt><code>=frames</code><dd>Display the raw contents of a &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_frame</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>F</code><br><dt><code>=frame-interp</code><dd>Display the interpreted contents of a &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_frame</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>g</code><dt><code>=gdb_index</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.gdb_index</span></samp>&rsquo; and/or
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_names</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.

          <br><dt><code>i</code><dt><code>=info</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_info</span></samp>&rsquo; section.  Note: the
output from this option can also be restricted by the use of the
<samp><span class="option">--dwarf-depth</span></samp> and <samp><span class="option">--dwarf-start</span></samp> options.

          <br><dt><code>k</code><dt><code>=links</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.gnu_debuglink</span></samp>&rsquo; and/or
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.gnu_debugaltlink</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.  Also displays any links to
separate dwarf object files (dwo), if they are specified by the
DW_AT_GNU_dwo_name or DW_AT_dwo_name attributes in the
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_info</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>K</code><dt><code>=follow-links</code><dd>Display the contents of any selected debug sections that are found in
linked, separate debug info file(s).  This can result in multiple
versions of the same debug section being displayed if it exists in
more than one file.

          <p>In addition, when displaying DWARF attributes, if a form is found that
references the separate debug info file, then the referenced contents
will also be displayed.

          <br><dt><code>l</code><dt><code>=rawline</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_line</span></samp>&rsquo; section in a raw
format.

          <br><dt><code>L</code><br><dt><code>=decodedline</code><dd>Displays the interpreted contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_line</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>m</code><dt><code>=macro</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_macro</span></samp>&rsquo; and/or
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_macinfo</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.

          <br><dt><code>o</code><dt><code>=loc</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_loc</span></samp>&rsquo; and/or
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_loclists</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.

          <br><dt><code>p</code><dt><code>=pubnames</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_pubnames</span></samp>&rsquo; and/or
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_gnu_pubnames</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.

          <br><dt><code>r</code><dt><code>=aranges</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_aranges</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>R</code><dt><code>=Ranges</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_ranges</span></samp>&rsquo; and/or
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_rnglists</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.

          <br><dt><code>s</code><dt><code>=str</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_str</span></samp>&rsquo;, &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_line_str</span></samp>&rsquo;
and/or &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_str_offsets</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.

          <br><dt><code>t</code><dt><code>=pubtype</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_pubtypes</span></samp>&rsquo; and/or
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_gnu_pubtypes</span></samp>&rsquo; sections.

          <br><dt><code>T</code><dt><code>=trace_aranges</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.trace_aranges</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>u</code><dt><code>=trace_abbrev</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.trace_abbrev</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

          <br><dt><code>U</code><dt><code>=trace_info</code><dd>Displays the contents of the &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.trace_info</span></samp>&rsquo; section.

     </dl>

     <p>Note: displaying the contents of &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_static_funcs</span></samp>&rsquo;,
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">.debug_static_vars</span></samp>&rsquo; and &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">debug_weaknames</span></samp>&rsquo; sections is not
currently supported.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">--dwarf-depth=</span><var>n</var></samp><dd>Limit the dump of the <code>.debug_info</code> section to <var>n</var> children. 
This is only useful with <samp><span class="option">--debug-dump=info</span></samp>.  The default is
to print all DIEs; the special value 0 for <var>n</var> will also have this
effect.

     <p>With a non-zero value for <var>n</var>, DIEs at or deeper than <var>n</var>
levels will not be printed.  The range for <var>n</var> is zero-based.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">--dwarf-start=</span><var>n</var></samp><dd>Print only DIEs beginning with the DIE numbered <var>n</var>.  This is only
useful with <samp><span class="option">--debug-dump=info</span></samp>.

     <p>If specified, this option will suppress printing of any header
information and all DIEs before the DIE numbered <var>n</var>.  Only
siblings and children of the specified DIE will be printed.

     <p>This can be used in conjunction with <samp><span class="option">--dwarf-depth</span></samp>.

     <!-- This file contains the entry for the -ctf, -ctf-parent, -ctf-symbols, -and -->
     <!-- ctf-strings options that are common to both readelf and objdump. -->
     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">--ctf=</span><var>section</var></samp><dd><a name="index-CTF-168"></a><a name="index-Compact-Type-Format-169"></a>
Display the contents of the specified CTF section.  CTF sections themselves
contain many subsections, all of which are displayed in order.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">--ctf-parent=</span><var>section</var></samp><dd>
Specify the name of another section from which the CTF file can inherit
types. 
<br><dt><samp><span class="env">--ctf-symbols=</span><var>section</var></samp><br><dt><samp><span class="env">--ctf-strings=</span><var>section</var></samp><dd>Specify the name of another section from which the CTF file can inherit
strings and symbols.

     <p>If either of <samp><span class="option">--ctf-symbols</span></samp> or <samp><span class="option">--ctf-strings</span></samp> is specified, the
other must be specified as well.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-I</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--histogram</span></samp><dd>Display a histogram of bucket list lengths when displaying the contents
of the symbol tables.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-v</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--version</span></samp><dd>Display the version number of readelf.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-W</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--wide</span></samp><dd>Don't break output lines to fit into 80 columns. By default
<samp><span class="command">readelf</span></samp> breaks section header and segment listing lines for
64-bit ELF files, so that they fit into 80 columns. This option causes
<samp><span class="command">readelf</span></samp> to print each section header resp. each segment one a
single line, which is far more readable on terminals wider than 80 columns.

     <br><dt><samp><span class="env">-H</span></samp><dt><samp><span class="env">--help</span></samp><dd>Display the command-line options understood by <samp><span class="command">readelf</span></samp>.

   </dl>

<!-- man end -->
   </body></html>