An object file's section header table lets one
locate all the file's sections.
The section header table is an array of Elf32_Shdr or Elf64_Shdr structures
as described below.
A section header table index is a subscript into this array.
The ELF header's e_shoff member gives the byte offset from the beginning of the
file to the section header table.e_shnum normally tells how many entries the section header table contains.e_shentsize gives the size in bytes of each entry. If the number of sections is greater than or equal toSHN_LORESERVE (0xff00 ), e_shnum has the value SHN_UNDEF (0 ) and the
actual number of section header table
entries is contained in the sh_size field of
the section header at index 0 (otherwise, the sh_size member of the initial entry
contains 0 ). Some section header table indexes are reserved in contexts
where index size is restricted, for example, the st_shndx member of a symbol table entry and the e_shnum ande_shstrndx members of the ELF header.
In such contexts, the reserved values do not represent actual
sections in the object file. Also in such contexts, an escape
value indicates that the actual section
index is to be found elsewhere, in a larger field. Figure 4-7: Special Section IndexesName | Value |
---|
SHN_UNDEF | 0 | SHN_LORESERVE | 0xff00 | SHN_LOPROC | 0xff00 | SHN_HIPROC | 0xff1f | SHN_LOOS | 0xff20 | SHN_HIOS | 0xff3f | SHN_ABS | 0xfff1 | SHN_COMMON | 0xfff2 | SHN_XINDEX | 0xffff | SHN_HIRESERVE | 0xffff |
SHN_UNDEF
This value marks an undefined, missing, irrelevant, or
otherwise meaningless section reference.
For example, a symbol ``defined'' relative to section numberSHN_UNDEF is an undefined symbol.
Although index 0 is reserved as the undefined value,
the section header table contains an entry for index 0.
If the e_shnum member of the ELF header says a file has 6 entries
in the section header table, they have the indexes 0 through 5.
The contents of the initial entry are specified later in this
section.
SHN_LORESERVE
This value specifies the lower bound of the
range of reserved indexes. SHN_LOPROC through SHN_HIPROC
Values in this inclusive range
are reserved for processor-specific semantics. SHN_LOOS through SHN_HIOS
Values in this inclusive range
are reserved for operating system-specific semantics. SHN_ABS
This value specifies absolute values for the corresponding reference.
For example, symbols defined relative to section number SHN_ABS have absolute values and are not affected by relocation. SHN_COMMON
Symbols defined relative to this section are common symbols,
such as FORTRANCOMMON or unallocated C external variables. SHN_XINDEX
This value is an escape value.
It indicates that the actual section header index is too large to fit
in the containing field and is to be found in another location
(specific to the structure where it appears). SHN_HIRESERVE
This value specifies the upper bound of the
range of reserved indexes.
The system reserves indexes between SHN_LORESERVE and SHN_HIRESERVE ,
inclusive; the values do not reference the section header table.
The section header table does not
contain entries for the reserved indexes.
Sections contain all information in an object file
except the ELF header, the program header table,
and the section header table.
Moreover, object files' sections satisfy several conditions. Every section in an object file has exactly one
section header describing it.
Section headers may exist that do not have a section. Each section occupies one contiguous (possibly empty)
sequence of bytes within a file. Sections in a file may not overlap.
No byte in a file resides in more than one section. An object file may have inactive space.
The various headers and the sections might not
``cover'' every byte in an object file.
The contents of the inactive data are unspecified. A section header has the following structure.
Figure 4-8: Section Headertypedef struct {
Elf32_Word sh_name;
Elf32_Word sh_type;
Elf32_Word sh_flags;
Elf32_Addr sh_addr;
Elf32_Off sh_offset;
Elf32_Word sh_size;
Elf32_Word sh_link;
Elf32_Word sh_info;
Elf32_Word sh_addralign;
Elf32_Word sh_entsize;
} Elf32_Shdr;
typedef struct {
Elf64_Word sh_name;
Elf64_Word sh_type;
Elf64_Xword sh_flags;
Elf64_Addr sh_addr;
Elf64_Off sh_offset;
Elf64_Xword sh_size;
Elf64_Word sh_link;
Elf64_Word sh_info;
Elf64_Xword sh_addralign;
Elf64_Xword sh_entsize;
} Elf64_Shdr;
sh_name
This member specifies the name of the section.
Its value is an index into the section header
string table section [see``String Table'' below],
giving the location of a null-terminated string. sh_type
This member categorizes the section's contents and semantics.
Section types and their descriptions appearbelow. sh_flags
Sections support 1-bit flags that describe miscellaneous attributes.
Flag definitions appear
below. sh_addr
If the section will appear in the memory image of a process,
this member gives the address at which the section's first
byte should reside.
Otherwise, the member contains 0. sh_offset
This member's value gives the byte offset from the beginning of the file
to the first byte in the section.
One section type, SHT_NOBITS describedbelow,
occupies no space in the file, and itssh_offset member locates the conceptual placement in the file. sh_size
This member gives the section's size in bytes.
Unless the section type isSHT_NOBITS , the section occupies sh_size bytes in the file.
A section of type SHT_NOBITS may have a non-zero size, but it occupies no space in the file. sh_link
This member holds a section header table index link,
whose interpretation depends on the section type.
A table below
describes the values. sh_info
This member holds extra information,
whose interpretation depends on the section type.
A table below
describes the values. If the sh_flags field for this
section header includes the attribute SHF_INFO_LINK , then this member represents a section header table index. sh_addralign
Some sections have address alignment constraints.
For example, if a section holds a doubleword,
the system must ensure doubleword alignment for the entire section.
The value of sh_addr must be congruent to 0, modulo the value of sh_addralign .
Currently, only 0 and positive integral powers of two are allowed.
Values 0 and 1 mean the section has no alignment constraints. sh_entsize
Some sections hold a table of fixed-size entries,
such as a symbol table.
For such a section, this member gives the size in bytes of each entry.
The member contains 0 if the section does not hold a table
of fixed-size entries.
A section header's sh_type member specifies the section's semantics. <="" a="">Figure 4-9: Section Types,sh_type Name | Value |
---|
SHT_NULL | 0 | SHT_PROGBITS | 1 | SHT_SYMTAB | 2 | SHT_STRTAB | 3 | SHT_RELA | 4 | SHT_HASH | 5 | SHT_DYNAMIC | 6 | SHT_NOTE | 7 | SHT_NOBITS | 8 | SHT_REL | 9 | SHT_SHLIB | 10 | SHT_DYNSYM | 11 | SHT_INIT_ARRAY | 14 | SHT_FINI_ARRAY | 15 | SHT_PREINIT_ARRAY | 16 | SHT_GROUP | 17 | SHT_SYMTAB_SHNDX | 18 | SHT_LOOS | 0x60000000 | SHT_HIOS | 0x6fffffff | SHT_LOPROC | 0x70000000 | SHT_HIPROC | 0x7fffffff | SHT_LOUSER | 0x80000000 | SHT_HIUSER | 0xffffffff |
- <="" a="">
SHT_NULL
This value marks the section header as inactive;
it does not have an associated section.
Other members of the section header have undefined values. SHT_PROGBITS
The section holds information defined by the program,
whose format and meaning are determined solely by the program. SHT_SYMTAB and SHT_DYNSYM
<="" a="">
These sections hold a symbol table.
Currently, an object file may have only one section of each type,
but this restriction may be relaxed in the future.
Typically, SHT_SYMTAB provides symbols for link editing, though it may also be
used for dynamic linking.
As a complete symbol table, it may contain many symbols unnecessary
for dynamic linking.
Consequently, an object file may also contain a SHT_DYNSYM section, which holds a minimal set of dynamic linking symbols,
to save space.
See ``Symbol Table'' below
for details. SHT_STRTAB
The section holds a string table.
An object file may have multiple string table sections.
See ``String Table''below for details. SHT_RELA
The section holds relocation entries
with explicit addends, such as typeElf32_Rela for the 32-bit class of object files
or type Elf64_Rela for the 64-bit class of object files.
An object file may have multiple relocation sections.``Relocation''below for details. SHT_HASH
The section holds a symbol hash table.
Currently, an object file may have only one hash table,
but this restriction may be relaxed in the future.
See
``Hash Table''in the Chapter 5 for details. SHT_DYNAMIC
The section holds information for dynamic linking.
Currently, an object file may have only one dynamic section,
but this restriction may be relaxed in the future.
See
``Dynamic Section''in Chapter 5 for details. SHT_NOTE
The section holds information that marks the file in some way.
See
``Note Section''in Chapter 5 for details. SHT_NOBITS
A section of this type occupies no space in the file but
otherwise resemblesSHT_PROGBITS .
Although this section contains no bytes, the sh_offset member contains the conceptual file offset. SHT_REL
The section holds relocation entries
without explicit addends, such as typeElf32_Rel for the 32-bit class of object files or
type Elf64_Rel for the 64-bit class of object files.
An object file may have multiple relocation sections.
See ``Relocation''below for details. SHT_SHLIB
This section type is reserved but has unspecified semantics. SHT_INIT_ARRAY
This section contains an array of pointers to initialization functions,
as described in ``Initialization and
Termination Functions'' in Chapter 5. Each pointer in the array
is taken as a parameterless procedure with a void return. SHT_FINI_ARRAY
This section contains an array of pointers to termination functions,
as described in ``Initialization and
Termination Functions'' in Chapter 5. Each pointer in the array
is taken as a parameterless procedure with a void return. SHT_PREINIT_ARRAY
This section contains an array of pointers to functions that are
invoked before all other initialization functions,
as described in ``Initialization and
Termination Functions'' in Chapter 5. Each pointer in the array
is taken as a parameterless procedure with a void return. SHT_GROUP
This section defines a section group. A section group
is a set of sections that are related and that must be treated
specially by the linker (see below for further
details). Sections of type SHT_GROUP may appear only
in relocatable objects (objects with the ELF header e_type member set to ET_REL ). The section header table entry
for a group section must appear in the section header table
before the entries for any of the sections that are members of
the group. SHT_SYMTAB_SHNDX
This section is associated with a symbol table section
and is required if any of the section header indexes referenced
by that symbol table contain the escape value SHN_XINDEX .
The section is an array of Elf32_Word values.
Each value corresponds one to one with a symbol table entry
and appear in the same order as those entries.
The values represent the section header indexes against which
the symbol table entries are defined.
Only if the corresponding symbol table entry's st_shndx field
contains the escape value SHN_XINDEX will the matching Elf32_Word hold the actual section header index;
otherwise, the entry must be SHN_UNDEF (0 ). SHT_LOOS through SHT_HIOS
Values in this inclusive range
are reserved for operating system-specific semantics. SHT_LOPROC through SHT_HIPROC
Values in this inclusive range
are reserved for processor-specific semantics. SHT_LOUSER
This value specifies the lower bound of the range of
indexes reserved for application programs. SHT_HIUSER
This value specifies the upper bound of the range of
indexes reserved for application programs.
Section types between SHT_LOUSER andSHT_HIUSER may be used by the application, without conflicting with
current or future system-defined section types.
Other section type values are reserved.
As mentioned before, the section header for index 0 (SHN_UNDEF )
exists, even though the index marks undefined section references.
This entry holds the following. Figure 4-10: Section Header Table Entry:Index 0Name | Value | Note |
---|
sh_name | 0 | No name | sh_type | SHT_NULL | Inactive | sh_flags | 0 | No flags | sh_addr | 0 | No address | sh_offset | 0 | No offset | sh_size | Unspecified | If non-zero, the actual number of section header entries | sh_link | Unspecified | If non-zero, the index of the section header string table section | sh_info | 0 | No auxiliary information | sh_addralign | 0 | No alignment | sh_entsize | 0 | No entries |
A section header's sh_flags member holds 1-bit flags that describe the section's attributes.
Defined values appear in the following table;
other values are reserved.<="" a=""> <="" a="">Figure 4-11: Section Attribute FlagsName | Value |
---|
SHF_WRITE | 0x1 | SHF_ALLOC | 0x2 | SHF_EXECINSTR | 0x4 | SHF_MERGE | 0x10 | SHF_STRINGS | 0x20 | SHF_INFO_LINK | 0x40 | SHF_LINK_ORDER | 0x80 | SHF_OS_NONCONFORMING | 0x100 | SHF_GROUP | 0x200 | SHF_TLS | 0x400 | SHF_COMPRESSED | 0x800 | SHF_MASKOS | 0x0ff00000 | SHF_MASKPROC | 0xf0000000 |
If a flag bit is set in sh_flags ,
the attribute is ``on'' for the section.
Otherwise, the attribute is ``off'' or does not apply.
Undefined attributes are set to zero. - <="" a="">
SHF_WRITE
The section contains data that should be writable during
process execution. SHF_ALLOC
The section occupies memory during process execution.
Some control sections do not reside in the memory image
of an object file; this attribute is off for those sections. SHF_EXECINSTR
<="" a="">
The section contains executable machine instructions. SHF_MERGE
The data in the section may be merged to eliminate duplication.
Unless the SHF_STRINGS flag is also set,
the data elements in the section are of a uniform size.
The size of each element is specified in the section
header's sh_entsize field.
If the SHF_STRINGS flag is also set,
the data elements consist of null-terminated character strings.
The size of each character is specified in the section
header's sh_entsize field. Each element in the section is compared against other elements
in sections with the same name, type and flags.
Elements that would have identical values at program run-time
may be merged.
Relocations referencing elements of such sections must be
resolved to the merged locations of the referenced values.
Note that any relocatable values, including
values that would result in run-time relocations, must be
analyzed to determine whether the run-time values would actually
be identical. An ABI-conforming object file may not depend
on specific elements being merged, and an ABI-conforming
link editor may choose not to merge specific elements. SHF_STRINGS
The data elements in the section consist of null-terminated character
strings. The size of each character is specified in the section
header's sh_entsize field.
SHF_INFO_LINK
The sh_info field of this section header holds a section
header table index. SHF_LINK_ORDER
This flag adds special ordering requirements for link editors.
The requirements apply if the
sh_link field of this section's header references
another section (the linked-to section).
If this section is combined with other
sections in the output file, it must appear in the same
relative order with respect to those sections, as the linked-to section
appears with respect to sections the linked-to section is combined with.
A typical use of this flag is to build a table that references text or
data sections in address order.
SHF_OS_NONCONFORMING
This section requires special OS-specific processing
(beyond the standard linking rules)
to avoid incorrect behavior.
If this section has either an sh_type value
or contains sh_flags bits in the OS-specific ranges for
those fields, and a link editor processing this section does not
recognize those values, then the link editor should reject
the object file containing this section with an error. SHF_GROUP
This section is a member (perhaps the only one) of a section group.
The section must be referenced by a section of type SHT_GROUP .
The SHF_GROUP flag may be set only for sections contained
in relocatable objects (objects with the ELF header e_type member set to ET_REL ).
See below for further details. SHF_TLS
This section holds Thread-Local Storage,
meaning that each separate execution flow
has its own distinct instance of this data.
Implementations need not support this flag. SHF_COMPRESSED
This flag identifies a section containing compressed data. SHF_COMPRESSED
applies only to non-allocable sections, and cannot be used in
conjunction with SHF_ALLOC. In addition, SHF_COMPRESSED cannot
be applied to sections of type SHT_NOBITS. All relocations to a compressed section specifiy offsets to the
uncompressed section data. It is therefore necessary to decompress
the section data before relocations can be applied. Each compressed section
specifies the algorithm independently. It is permissible for
different sections in a given ELF object to employ different compression
algorithms. Compressed sections begin with a compression header structure that
identifies the compression algorithm.
Figure 4-12: Compression Headertypedef struct {
Elf32_Word ch_type;
Elf32_Word ch_size;
Elf32_Word ch_addralign;
} Elf32_Chdr;
typedef struct {
Elf64_Word ch_type;
Elf64_Word ch_reserved;
Elf64_Xword ch_size;
Elf64_Xword ch_addralign;
} Elf64_Chdr;
ch_type
This member specifies the compression algorithm. Supported algorithms
and their descriptions are listed in theELF Compression Types table below. ch_size
This member provides the size in bytes of the uncompressed data.
See sh_size . ch_addralign
Specifies the required alignment for the uncompressed data.
See sh_addralign .
The sh_size and sh_addralign fields of the section
header for a compressed section reflect the requirements of the
compressed section. The ch_size and ch_addralign fields in the compression header provide the corresponding values for the
uncompressed data, thereby supplying the values that sh_size and
sh_addralign would have had if the section had not been
compressed. The layout and interpretation of the data that follows the compression header
is specific to each algorithm, and is defined below for each value of
ch_type . This area may contain algorithm specific parameters
and alignment padding in addition to compressed data bytes. A compression header's ch_type member specifies the
compression algoritm employed, as shown in the following table.
Figure 4-13: ELF Compression Types, ch_type Name | Value |
---|
ELFCOMPRESS_ZLIB | 1 | ELFCOMPRESS_LOOS | 0x60000000 | ELFCOMPRESS_HIOS | 0x6fffffff | ELFCOMPRESS_LOPROC | 0x70000000 | ELFCOMPRESS_HIPROC | 0x7fffffff |
ELFCOMPRESS_ZLIB
The section data is compressed with the ZLIB algoritm. The compressed
ZLIB data bytes begin with the byte immediately following the compression
header, and extend to the end of the section. Additional documentation
for ZLIB may be found at http://. ELFCOMPRESS_LOOS - ELFCOMPRESS_HIOS
Values in this inclusive range are reserved for operating system-specific
semantics. ELFCOMPRESS_LOPROC - ELF_COMPRESS_HIPROC
Values in this inclusive range are reserved for processor-specific semantics.
SHF_MASKOS
All bits included in this mask
are reserved for operating system-specific semantics. SHF_MASKPROC
All bits included in this mask
are reserved for processor-specific semantics.
If meanings are specified, the processor supplement explains
them.
Two members in the section header,sh_link and sh_info ,
hold special information, depending on section type. Figure 4-14: sh_link and sh_info Interpretationsh_type | sh_link | sh_info |
---|
SHT_DYNAMIC | The section header index of
the string table used by
entries in the section. | 0 | SHT_HASH | The section header index of
the symbol table to which
the hash table applies. | 0 | SHT_REL
SHT_RELA | The section header index of
the associated symbol table. | The section header index of
the section to which the
relocation applies. | SHT_SYMTAB
SHT_DYNSYM | The section header index of
the associated string table. | One greater than the symbol table index of the last local
symbol (binding STB_LOCAL ). | SHT_GROUP | The section header index of
the associated symbol table. | The symbol table index of an entry in the
associated symbol table. The name of the specified symbol table
entry provides a signature for the section group. | SHT_SYMTAB_SHNDX | The section header index of
the associated symbol table section. | 0 |
Rules for Linking Unrecognized SectionsIf a link editor encounters sections whose headers contain OS-specific
values it does not recognize in the sh_type or sh_flags fields, the link editor should combine those
sections as described below.If the section's sh_flags bits include the attributeSHF_OS_NONCONFORMING , then the section requires
special knowledge to be correctly processed, and the link editor should
reject the object containing the section with an error. Unrecognized sections that do not have theSHF_OS_NONCONFORMING attribute, are combined in a two-phase
process. As the link editor combines sections using this process,
it must honor the alignment constraints of the
input sections (asserted by the sh_addralign field),
padding between sections with zero bytes, if necessary, and producing
a combination with the maximum alignment constraint of its
component input sections. In the first phase, input sections that match in name, type
and attribute flags should be concatenated into single sections.
The concatenation order should satisfy the requirements of
any known input section attributes (e.g, SHF_MERGE and SHF_LINK_ORDER ). When not otherwise constrained,
sections should be emitted in input order. In the second phase, sections should be assigned to segments or
other units based on their attribute flags. Sections of each particular
unrecognized type should be assigned to the same unit unless
prevented by incompatible flags, and within a unit, sections
of the same unrecognized type should be placed together
if possible.
Non OS-specific processing (e.g. relocation) should be applied
to unrecognized section types. An output section header table,
if present, should contain entries for unknown sections.
Any unrecognized section attribute flags should be removed.
It is recommended that link editors follow the same two-phase
ordering approach described above when linking sections of
known types. Padding between such sections may have values
different from zero, where appropriate.
Section GroupsSome sections occur in interrelated groups. For example, an out-of-line
definition of an inline function might require, in addition to the
section containing its executable instructions, a read-only data
section containing literals referenced, one or more debugging information
sections and other informational sections. Furthermore, there may be
internal references among these sections that would not make sense
if one of the sections were removed or replaced by a duplicate from
another object. Therefore, such groups must be
included or omitted from the linked object as a unit.
A section cannot be a member of more than one group.A section of type SHT_GROUP defines such a grouping
of sections. The name of a symbol from one of the containing
object's symbol tables provides a signature for the section group.
The section header of the SHT_GROUP section specifies
the identifying symbol entry, as described above:
the sh_link member contains the section header index
of the symbol table section that contains the entry.
The sh_info member contains the symbol table index of
the identifying entry. The sh_flags member of the section header contains 0 .
The name of the section (sh_name ) is not specified. The referenced signature symbol is not restricted.
Its containing symbol table section need not be a member of the group,
for example. The section data of a SHT_GROUP section is an array
of Elf32_Word entries. The first entry is a flag word.
The remaining entries are a sequence of section header indices. The following flags are currently defined: Figure 4-15: Section Group FlagsName | Value |
---|
GRP_COMDAT | 0x1 | GRP_MASKOS | 0x0ff00000 | GRP_MASKPROC | 0xf0000000 |
GRP_COMDAT
This is a COMDAT group. It may duplicate another COMDAT group
in another object file, where duplication is defined as having the
same group signature. In such cases, only one of the
duplicate groups may be retained by the linker, and the
members of the remaining groups must be discarded. GRP_MASKOS
All bits included in this mask
are reserved for operating system-specific semantics. GRP_MASKPROC
All bits included in this mask
are reserved for processor-specific semantics.
If meanings are specified, the processor supplement explains
them.
The section header indices in the SHT_GROUP section
identify the sections that make up the group. Each such section
must have the SHF_GROUP flag set in its sh_flags section header member. If the linker decides to remove the section
group, it must remove all members of the group.
This requirement is not intended to imply that special case behavior
like removing debugging information requires removing the sections
to which that information refers, even if they are part of the same
group.
To facilitate removing a group without leaving dangling references
and with only minimal processing of the symbol table,
the following rules must be followed: A symbol table entry with STB_GLOBAL or STB_WEAK binding that is defined relative to one of a group's sections,
and that is contained in a symbol table section
that is not part of the group,
must be converted to an undefined symbol
(its section index must be changed to SHN_UNDEF )
if the group members are discarded.
References to this symbol table entry from outside the group are allowed. A symbol table entry with STB_LOCAL binding
that is defined relative to one of a group's sections,
and that is contained in a symbol table section
that is not part of the group,
must be discarded if the group members are discarded.
References to this symbol table entry from outside the group are not allowed. An undefined symbol that is referenced only from one or more sections
that are part of a particular group,
and that is contained in a symbol table section
that is not part of the group,
is not removed when the group members are discarded.
In other words,
the undefined symbol is not removed
even if no references to that symbol remain. There may not be non-symbol references to the sections comprising
a group from outside the group, for example, use of a group
member's section header index in an sh_link orsh_info member.
Special SectionsVarious sections hold program and control information.The following table
shows sections that are used by the system
and have the indicated types and attributes. Figure 4-16: Special SectionsName | Type | Attributes |
---|
.bss | SHT_NOBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE | .comment | SHT_PROGBITS | none | .data | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE | .data1 | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE | .debug | SHT_PROGBITS | none | .dynamic | SHT_DYNAMIC | see below | .dynstr | SHT_STRTAB | SHF_ALLOC | .dynsym | SHT_DYNSYM | SHF_ALLOC | .fini | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_EXECINSTR | .fini_array | SHT_FINI_ARRAY | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE | .got | SHT_PROGBITS | see below | .hash | SHT_HASH | SHF_ALLOC | .init | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_EXECINSTR | .init_array | SHT_INIT_ARRAY | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE | .interp | SHT_PROGBITS | see below | .line | SHT_PROGBITS | none | .note | SHT_NOTE | none | .plt | SHT_PROGBITS | see below | .preinit_array | SHT_PREINIT_ARRAY | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE | .rel name | SHT_REL | see below | .rela name | SHT_RELA | see below | .rodata | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC | .rodata1 | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC | .shstrtab | SHT_STRTAB | none | .strtab | SHT_STRTAB | see below | .symtab | SHT_SYMTAB | see below | .symtab_shndx | SHT_SYMTAB_SHNDX | see below | .tbss | SHT_NOBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE+SHF_TLS | .tdata | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE+SHF_TLS | .tdata1 | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_WRITE+SHF_TLS | .text | SHT_PROGBITS | SHF_ALLOC+SHF_EXECINSTR |
.bss
This section holds uninitialized data that contribute
to the program's memory image.
By definition, the system initializes the data with zeros
when the program begins to run.
The section occupies no file space, as indicated by the section type,SHT_NOBITS . .comment
This section holds version control information. .data and .data1
These sections hold initialized data that contribute
to the program's memory image. .debug
This section holds information for symbolic debugging.
The contents are unspecified. All section names with the
prefix .debug are reserved for future use in the
ABI. .dynamic
This section holds dynamic linking information.
The section's attributes will include the SHF_ALLOC bit.
Whether the SHF_WRITE bit is set is processor specific.
See Chapter 5 for more information. .dynstr
This section holds strings needed for dynamic linking,
most commonly the strings
that represent the names associated with symbol table entries.
See Chapter 5 for more information. .dynsym
This section holds the dynamic linking symbol table,
as described in``Symbol Table''.
See Chapter 5 for more information. .fini
This section holds executable instructions that contribute
to the process termination code.
That is, when a program exits normally, the system arranges
to execute the code in this section. .fini_array
This section holds an array of function pointers that contributes
to a single termination array for the executable or shared
object containing the section. .got
This section holds the global offset table.
See ``Coding Examples'' in Chapter 3, ``Special Sections'' in
Chapter 4, and ``Global Offset Table'' in Chapter 5 of the
processor supplement for more information. .hash
This section holds a symbol hash table.
See
``Hash Table''in Chapter 5 for more information. .init
This section holds executable instructions that contribute
to the process initialization code.
When a program starts to run, the system arranges
to execute the code in this section before calling the
main program entry point (called main for C programs). .init_array
This section holds an array of function pointers that contributes
to a single initialization array for the executable or shared
object containing the section. .interp
This section holds the path name of a program interpreter.
If the file has a loadable segment that includes
relocation, the sections' attributes will include theSHF_ALLOC bit; otherwise, that bit will be off.
See Chapter 5 for more information. .line
This section holds line number information for symbolic
debugging, which describes
the correspondence between the source program and the
machine code.
The contents are unspecified. .note
This section holds information in the format that``Note Section''.
in Chapter 5 describes. .plt
This section holds the procedure linkage table.
See ``Special Sections'' in Chapter 4 and ``Procedure Linkage
Table'' in Chapter 5 of the processor supplement for more
information. .preinit_array
This section holds an array of function pointers that contributes
to a single pre-initialization array for the executable or shared
object containing the section. .rel name and .rela name
These sections hold relocation information, as described in``Relocation''.
If the file has a loadable segment that includes
relocation, the sections' attributes will include theSHF_ALLOC bit; otherwise, that bit will be off.
Conventionally, nameis supplied by the section to which the relocations apply.
Thus a relocation section for .text normally would have the name .rel.text or .rela.text . .rodata and .rodata1
These sections hold read-only data that
typically contribute to a non-writable segment
in the process image.
See
``Program Header''in Chapter 5 for more information. .shstrtab
This section holds section names. .strtab
This section holds strings, most commonly the strings
that represent the names associated with symbol table entries.
If the file has a loadable segment that includes the
symbol string table, the section's attributes will include theSHF_ALLOC bit; otherwise, that bit will be off. .symtab
This section holds a symbol table, as
``Symbol Table''.
in this chapter describes.
If the file has a loadable segment that includes the
symbol table, the section's attributes will include theSHF_ALLOC bit; otherwise, that bit will be off. .symtab_shndx
This section holds the special symbol table section index
array, as described above. The section's attributes will include
the SHF_ALLOC bit if the associated symbol table
section does; otherwise that bit will be off. .tbss
This section holds uninitialized thread-local data that contribute
to the program's memory image.
By definition,
the system initializes the data with zeros
when the data is instantiated for each new execution flow.
The section occupies no file space, as indicated by the section type,SHT_NOBITS .
Implementations need not support thread-local storage. .tdata
This section holds initialized thread-local data that contributes
to the program's memory image.
A copy of its contents is instantiated by the system
for each new execution flow.
Implementations need not support thread-local storage. .text
This section holds the ``text,'' or executable
instructions, of a program.
Section names with a dot (. ) prefix
are reserved for the system,
although applications may use these sections
if their existing meanings are satisfactory.
Applications may use names without the prefix to
avoid conflicts with system sections.
The object file format lets one define sections not
shown in the previous list.
An object file may have more than one section
with the same name. Section names reserved for a processor architecture
are formed by placing an abbreviation of the architecture
name ahead of the section name.
The name should be taken from the
architecture names used for e_machine .
For instance . FOO.psect is the psect section defined by the FOO architecture.
Existing extensions are called by their historical names. Pre-existing Extensions.sdata | .tdesc | .sbss | .lit4 | .lit8 | .reginfo | .gptab | .liblist | .conflict |
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For information on processor-specific sections,
see the ABI supplement for the desired processor.
  
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