What is the difference between ELF files and bin files?

arm elf
Manik Mahajan picture Manik Mahajan · Mar 11, 2010 · Viewed 100.6k times · Source

The final images produced by compliers contain both bin file and extended loader format ELf file ,what is the difference between the two , especially the utility of ELF file.

Answer

t0mm13b picture t0mm13b · Mar 11, 2010

A Bin file is a pure binary file with no memory fix-ups or relocations, more than likely it has explicit instructions to be loaded at a specific memory address. Whereas....

ELF files are Executable Linkable Format which consists of a symbol look-ups and relocatable table, that is, it can be loaded at any memory address by the kernel and automatically, all symbols used, are adjusted to the offset from that memory address where it was loaded into. Usually ELF files have a number of sections, such as 'data', 'text', 'bss', to name but a few...it is within those sections where the run-time can calculate where to adjust the symbol's memory references dynamically at run-time.

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