Comparison of executable file formats
Encyclopedia
This is a comparison of executable
file format
s.
Among the above formats, the ones in most common use are PE
(on Microsoft Windows
), ELF
(on Linux
and most other versions of Unix
) and Mach-O
(on Mac OS X
).
Executable
In computing, an executable file causes a computer "to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instructions," as opposed to a data file that must be parsed by a program to be meaningful. These instructions are traditionally machine code instructions for a physical CPU...
file format
File format
A file format is a particular way that information is encoded for storage in a computer file.Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa. There are different kinds of formats for...
s.
| Explicit processor declarations | Arbitrary sections | Digital signature Code signing Code signing is the process of digitally signing executables and scripts to confirm the software author and guarantee that the code has not been altered or corrupted since it was signed by use of a cryptographic hash.... |
String table String (computer science) In formal languages, which are used in mathematical logic and theoretical computer science, a string is a finite sequence of symbols that are chosen from a set or alphabet.... |
Symbol table Symbol table In computer science, a symbol table is a data structure used by a language translator such as a compiler or interpreter, where each identifier in a program's source code is associated with information relating to its declaration or appearance in the source, such as its type, scope level and... |
64-bit 64-bit 64-bit is a word size that defines certain classes of computer architecture, buses, memory and CPUs, and by extension the software that runs on them. 64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1970s and in RISC-based workstations and servers since the early 1990s... |
Fat binaries Fat binary A fat binary is a computer program with code native to multiple Instruction sets which can consequently be run on multiple processor types. The usual method of implementation is to include a version of the machine code for each instruction set, preceded by code compatible with all operating... |
Can contain icon Icon (computing) A computer icon is a pictogram displayed on a computer screen and used to navigate a computer system or mobile device. The icon itself is a small picture or symbol serving as a quick, intuitive representation of a software tool, function or a data file accessible on the system. It functions as an... |
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| a.out | |||||||||
| COFF COFF The Common Object File Format is a specification of a format for executable, object code, and shared library computer files used on Unix systems... |
by file | ||||||||
| ELF Executable and Linkable Format In computing, the Executable and Linkable Format is a common standard file format for executables, object code, shared libraries, and core dumps. First published in the System V Application Binary Interface specification, and later in the Tool Interface Standard, it was quickly accepted among... |
by file | ||||||||
| PE Portable Executable The Portable Executable format is a file format for executables, object code and DLLs, used in 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems. The term "portable" refers to the format's versatility in numerous environments of operating system software architecture... |
by file | ||||||||
| Mach-O Mach-O Mach-O, short for Mach object file format, is a file format for executables, object code, shared libraries, dynamically-loaded code, and core dumps. A replacement for the a.out format, Mach-O offered more extensibility and faster access to information in the symbol table.Mach-O was once used by... |
by section | ||||||||
| SOM System Object Model (file format) In computing, the System Object Model is a proprietary executable file format developed by Hewlett-Packard for its HP-UX and MPE/ix operating systems.... |
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| Hunk Amiga Hunk Hunk is the executable file format of tools and programs of the Amiga Operating System based on Motorola 68000 CPU and other processors of the same family.... |
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| MZ | |||||||||
| DOS COM COM file In many computer operating systems, a COM file is a type of executable file; the name is derived from the file name extension .COM. Originally, the term stood for "Command file", a text file containing commands to be issued to the operating system , on many of the Digital Equipment Corporation mini... |
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| PEF Preferred Executable Format The Preferred Executable Format is a file format that specifies the format of executable files and other object code. PEF executables are also called Code Fragment Manager files .... |
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| ECOFF ECOFF The Extended Common Object File Format is a file format for executables, object code, and shared libraries.ECOFF was developed for the MIPS platform, and was used by DEC Ultrix and Tru64 , SGI Irix, and Linux/MIPS.- External links :*... |
by file | ||||||||
| XCOFF XCOFF XCOFF, for "eXtended COFF", is an improved and expanded version of the COFF object file format defined by IBM and used in AIX. Early versions of the PowerPC Macintosh also supported XCOFF, as did BeOS.... |
by file | ||||||||
| NE New Executable The New Executable is a 16-bit .exe file format, a successor to the DOS MZ executable format. It was used in a special version of MS-DOS, Windows 1.0, Windows 2.x, and Windows 3.x... |
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| LX |
Among the above formats, the ones in most common use are PE
Portable Executable
The Portable Executable format is a file format for executables, object code and DLLs, used in 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows operating systems. The term "portable" refers to the format's versatility in numerous environments of operating system software architecture...
(on Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
), ELF
Executable and Linkable Format
In computing, the Executable and Linkable Format is a common standard file format for executables, object code, shared libraries, and core dumps. First published in the System V Application Binary Interface specification, and later in the Tool Interface Standard, it was quickly accepted among...
(on Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and most other versions of Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
) and Mach-O
Mach-O
Mach-O, short for Mach object file format, is a file format for executables, object code, shared libraries, dynamically-loaded code, and core dumps. A replacement for the a.out format, Mach-O offered more extensibility and faster access to information in the symbol table.Mach-O was once used by...
(on Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
).