Linker
A linker is a software tool that combines compiled program components, resolves references among them, and produces an executable or linkable program image.
Modern C
A linker is a tool that combines translated program components, resolves references, and produces an executable or linkable program image.
- How it is used
- Coordinates references among object files, libraries, and program-startup initialization.
- How deep it goes
- Explains external linkage and startup initialization, but stops short of platform-specific linker invocation details.
- Examples
- Uses extern references, C library functions in libc.so, and static initialization involving another object’s address.
- What you can do after
- Understand why cross-file references and some startup initialization require linker involvement.
Modern C, Third Edition
A linker is a tool that combines compiled program components and resolves references to produce an executable or other linked program image.
- How it is used
- Connects externally linked identifiers across object files and system libraries, often behind the compiler frontend.
- How deep it goes
- Explains cross-object correspondence, library residence, and startup timing, but does not detail linker algorithms or command usage.
- Examples
- Uses extern declarations, file-scope static identifiers, object files, and the system library libc.so.
- What you can do after
- Evaluate/understand why declarations in different object files can designate one shared function or object.
Related concepts
- external linkageused by · External linkage is the property that allows declarations in different translation units to designate the same entity.
- go commandused by · The go command is Go’s standard command-line interface for compiling, building, testing, formatting, analyzing, and managing Go programs and dependencies.
- libraryuses · A software library is a reusable collection of code or components that other programs can incorporate or invoke to provide functionality.
- memory locationuses · A memory location is an identifiable address or storage region in computer memory where data or instructions can reside or be accessed.
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