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strip (Unix)
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<h2 id="description">Description</h2> <p>strip is a <a href="/facts/GNU_Binary_Utilities/J44lMK6U">GNU binary utility</a> that is used to remove information in a compiled binary or <a href="/facts/Object_file/sFBvosE4">object file</a> that is not needed for its <a href="/facts/Execution_(computing)/1fyfGMFm">execution</a>. This information typically includes <a href="/facts/Debugging/QtdpPJT0">debugging</a> information and <a href="/facts/Symbol_tables/ILc0WE9u">symbol tables</a>; however, the exact scope of the changes made to the binary is left to the discretion of the program's implementer by using the <a href="/facts/Command-line_option/R9JpGmXQ">command-line options</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p><p>Using strip can enhance the security of a binary by making it more difficult to <a href="/facts/Reverse_engineering/pmJCV7J7">reverse-engineer</a>. The absence of symbol and debugging information complicates the <a href="/facts/Program_analysis/oaJTAjhH">program analysis</a> of the binary. </p><p>The effect of strip can also be achieved directly by using the <a href="/facts/Compiler/WNfCDFJe">compiler</a> or <a href="/facts/Linker_(computing)/pn1hztYe">linker</a> to perform the same process. A compiler is a program that translates <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a> written in a <a href="/facts/High-level_programming_language/smjECUhx">high-level programming language</a> (like <a href="/facts/C_(programming_language)/Ky2No763">C</a> or <a href="/facts/C%252B%252B/Et0F2qn9">C++</a>) into <a href="/facts/Machine_code/bgdQ1Fxf">machine code</a> that the computer’s processor can execute. A linker, on the other hand, takes one or more object files generated by the compiler and combines them into a single <a href="/facts/Executable_file/VSst9eLA">executable file</a>, resolving any symbol <a href="/facts/Reference_(computer_science)/1vm2Bph1">references</a> between them.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>For example, in the <a href="/facts/GNU_Compiler_Collection/t07jh01k">GNU Compiler Collection</a> (GCC), this is done by using the "-s” option with gcc. This tells the linker to remove debugging information and symbols during the linking process, resulting in a smaller, stripped executable.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>The <a href="/facts/GNU_Project/mjc8AwM6">GNU Project</a> ships an implementation of strip as part of the <a href="/facts/GNU_Binutils/J44lMK6U">GNU Binutils</a> package. strip has been <a href="/facts/Ported/7s6tFs8B">ported</a> to other operating systems including <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a>. </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>Free and open-source software portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Dead_code_elimination/waQRsajr">Dead code elimination</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Executable_compression/rb9HnGG5">Executable compression</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_Unix_commands/EEuIsUx9">List of Unix commands</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Strings_(Unix)/UCdWfNET">Strings (Unix)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Debug_symbol/ITvjepr0">Debug symbol</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Symbol_table/ILc0WE9u">Symbol table</a></li></ul> <ul><li>"strip", <a href="http://www.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/007908799/xcu/strip.html"><i>The Single UNIX Specification, Version 2</i></a>, The Open Group, 1997</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> The Wikibook <i>Guide to Unix</i> has a page on the topic of: <i>Commands</i> <ul><li><a href="https://pubs.opengroup.org/onlinepubs/9799919799/utilities/strip.html">strip</a> – Shell and Utilities Reference, <a href="/facts/Single_Unix_Specification/w1ba5bDt">The Single UNIX Specification</a>, Version 4 from <a href="/facts/The_Open_Group/uRoDdEae">The Open Group</a></li> <li><a href="https://9p.io/magic/man2html/1/strip">strip(1)</a> – <a href="/facts/Plan_9_from_Bell_Labs/pQjPlS7w">Plan 9</a> Programmer's Manual, Volume 1</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Linux Strip Command". www.computerhope.com. Retrieved 2024-10-01. <a href="https://www.computerhope.com/unix/strip.htm" target="_blank">https://www.computerhope.com/unix/strip.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"What is the difference between "gcc -s" and a "strip" command?". Stack Overflow. Retrieved 2024-10-01. <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1349166/what-is-the-difference-between-gcc-s-and-a-strip-command" target="_blank">https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1349166/what-is-the-difference-between-gcc-s-and-a-strip-command</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"What is the difference between "gcc -s" and a "strip" command?". Stack Overflow. Retrieved 2024-10-01. <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1349166/what-is-the-difference-between-gcc-s-and-a-strip-command" target="_blank">https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1349166/what-is-the-difference-between-gcc-s-and-a-strip-command</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>