Readelf

readelf Plugin

Display information about ELF format files (executables, shared libraries, object files).

Commands

• readelf self version — Print version
• readelf file header <elf-file> — Display ELF file header
• readelf file sections <elf-file> — Display section headers
• readelf file symbols <elf-file> — Display symbol table
• readelf file relocations <elf-file> — Display relocations
• readelf file dynamic <elf-file> — Display dynamic section
• readelf file segments <elf-file> — Display program headers/segments
• readelf file notes <elf-file> — Display notes section
• readelf file version-info <elf-file> — Display version sections
• readelf file demangle <elf-file> — Display symbols with demangled C++/Rust names
• readelf file all <elf-file> — Display all information
• readelf _ _ [args] — Passthrough to readelf

Usage Examples

Examine a binary

Check ELF header: readelf file header /bin/ls

List sections: readelf file sections /bin/ls

Find symbols: readelf file symbols /usr/lib/libc.so.6

With demangled names: readelf file demangle /usr/lib/libstdc++.so.6

Debug linking

Check dependencies: readelf file dynamic /usr/bin/gcc

Quick overview

All info at once: readelf file all /bin/bash

Installation

Part of GNU Binutils, pre-installed on most Linux distributions.