elf_strptr - Man Page

Return a pointer to a string in a string table section

Synopsis

#include <libelf.h>

char *elf_strptr(Elf *elf, size_t section_index, size_t offset);

Description

The elf_strptr() function returns a pointer to a null-terminated string located at offset bytes from the beginning of the string table section identified by section_index. The section must be of type SHT_STRTAB.

This function validates the provided offset against the size of the string table and ensures the string is null-terminated. It transparently handles both uncompressed and compressed sections.

If the ELF descriptor is not backed by memory mapping, or the section has not been loaded yet, the function will read and initialize the necessary data from the file.

Parameters

elf

Pointer to an ELF descriptor.

section_index

The index of the string table section (of type SHT_STRTAB).

offset

The byte offset from the beginning of the string table section where the desired string is located.

Return Value

Returns a pointer to the string within the string table if successful. Returns NULL on error.

See Also

elf(3), elf_getscn(3), libelf(3), elf(5)

Attributes

InterfaceAttributeValue
elf_strptr()Thread safetyMT-Safe

Reporting Bugs

Report bugs to <elfutils-devel@sourceware.org> or https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/.

Referenced By

elf_getshdrstrndx(3).

2025-06-30 Libelf Programmer's Manual