How Can I Retrieve and Demangle Symbol Information from a Shared Library (.so file)?

Retrieving Symbol Information from a Shared Library

When working with shared libraries (.so files), it often becomes necessary to examine their symbols to gain insights into their structure and interconnectedness. This guide will explore various methods to list symbols within a .so file, including techniques to identify their origin and dependencies.

nm Command

The nm utility is a common tool for listing symbols in executable and library files. It provides detailed information about symbol names, addresses, and characteristics. To list the symbols in a .so file using nm:

nm -gD yourLib.so

The -gD option instructs nm to display symbol names and their associated GNU debugging information.

Demangling C Symbols

In the case of C libraries, symbols are often mangled for optimization purposes. To demangle these symbols, making them more readable, use the -C option:

nm -gDC yourLib.so

ELF Formatted Shared Libraries

If the .so file is in ELF format, two alternative tools can be utilized:

objdump

Objdump provides comprehensive information about ELF files, including a list of symbols:

$ objdump -TC libz.so

The -C option demangles C symbols, improving readability.

readelf

Readelf offers a feature-rich analysis of ELF files, including symbol information:

$ readelf -Ws libz.so

The -Ws option displays a detailed symbol table.

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