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ELF_GETSHDRSTRNDX(3) Libelf Programmer's Manual ELF_GETSHDRSTRNDX(3)

NAME

elf_getshdrstrndx, elf_getshstrndx - retrieve the section header string table index

SYNOPSIS

#include <libelf.h>
int elf_getshdrstrndx("Elf *elf", size_t *dst );
int elf_getshstrndx("Elf *elf", size_t *dst ); (deprecated)

DESCRIPTION

The elf_getshdrstrndx() function retrieves the section header string table index from the ELF descriptor elf, and stores it in the location pointed to by dst.

A section's name can be aquired with elf_strptr(3). This function takes the section header string table index from elf_getshdrstrndx() as well as the sh_name field from the section's Elf32_Shdr or Elf64_Shdr (see elf32_getshdr and elf64_getshdr).

This function handles both standard ELF values and extended section indexing. In the latter case, if the section header string table index field of the ELF header contains SHN_XINDEX, then the true index is stored in the sh_link field of section 0.

The function elf_getshstrndx() is a deprecated alias for elf_getshdrstrndx() and should not be used in new code (see HISTORY).

PARAMETERS

A pointer to an Elf descriptor. The descriptor must have kind ELF_K_ELF . If elf is NULL, then this function returns -1 without setting elf_errno

A pointer to a size_t location where the index of the section header string table will be stored. Must not be NULL.

RETURN VALUE

Returns 0 on success and stores the section header string table index in dst. Returns -1 on failure and sets elf_errno (if elf is not NULL).

SEE ALSO

elf32_getshdr(3), elf64_getshdr(3), elf_strptr(3), libelf(3), elf(5)

ATTRIBUTES

Interface Attribute Value
elf_getshdrstrndx (), elf_getshstrndx () Thread safety MT-Safe

REPORTING BUGS

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

HISTORY

elf_getshdrstrndx first appeared in elfutils 0.142. This function was added due to elf_getshstrndx return value inconsistencies between different libelf implementations. elf_getshdrstrndx was introduced to ensure that 0 is returned on success.

2025-06-30 Libelf