Executable Formats: Difference between revisions
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An executable format is the file format created by the compiler and linker, and that is then loaded into memory by the operating system's loader. The number of different executable file types is as many and varied as the number of different image and sound file formats. This page gives an introduction to the theory behind these formats. |
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The number of different executable file types is as many and varied as the number of different image and sound file formats. Every Operating System seems to have one or more executable file types unique to itself. |
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== A few terms == |
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== Definitions == |
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* TEXT is the actual executable code area, |
* TEXT is the actual executable code area, |
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* DATA is "initialized" data, |
* DATA is "initialized" data, |
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The BSS (Block Started by Symbol) needn't to be present in an executable file. At load-time, the loader will still allocate memory for it and ''wipes'' this memory with zeros (this is assumed by C programs, for instance). |
The BSS (Block Started by Symbol) needn't to be present in an executable file. At load-time, the loader will still allocate memory for it and ''wipes'' this memory with zeros (this is assumed by C programs, for instance). |
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== |
== See Also == |
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=== Articles === |
=== Articles === |
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* [[:Category:Executable Formats|List of executable formats]] |
* [[:Category:Executable Formats|List of executable formats]] |
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* The [http://www.iecc.com/linker/ Linkers and Loaders] online book... |
* The [http://www.iecc.com/linker/ Linkers and Loaders] online book... |
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* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pierrelib/exec_formats/index.html Pierre's Library] |
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pierrelib/exec_formats/index.html Pierre's Library] |
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[[Category:Executable Formats]] |
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[[Category:OS theory]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:33, 9 July 2023
An executable format is the file format created by the compiler and linker, and that is then loaded into memory by the operating system's loader. The number of different executable file types is as many and varied as the number of different image and sound file formats. This page gives an introduction to the theory behind these formats.
Definitions
- TEXT is the actual executable code area,
- DATA is "initialized" data,
- BSS is "un-initialized" data.
The BSS (Block Started by Symbol) needn't to be present in an executable file. At load-time, the loader will still allocate memory for it and wipes this memory with zeros (this is assumed by C programs, for instance).
See Also
Articles
External Links
- Wotsit's Programmer's File Format Collection
- The Linkers and Loaders online book...
- Pierre's Library