strings(1)strings(1)NAMEstrings - Finds strings in an ASCII or binary file
SYNOPSISstrings [-aco] [-t format] [-n number] [file...]
Obsolescent syntax
strings [-] [-t format] [-number] [file...]
STANDARDS
Interfaces documented on this reference page conform to industry stan‐
dards as follows:
strings: XCU5.0
Refer to the standards(5) reference page for more information about
industry standards and associated tags.
OPTIONS
Searches an entire object file, not just the initialized data space.
Searches only the comment section of the object file. Sets the minimum
string length (default: 4) to number. Precedes each string by its off‐
set (in octal) in the file. Writes each string preceded by its byte
offset from the start of the file. The format is dependent on the sin‐
gle character used as the format argument, as follows: The offset is
written in decimal. The offset is written in octal. The offset is
written in hexadecimal. Sets the minimum string length (default: 4) to
number. (Obsolescent) Searches an entire object file, not just the
initialized data space. (Obsolescent)
OPERANDS
The name of a file to be searched for strings.
If you do not specify a file argument, strings reads from stan‐
dard input.
DESCRIPTION
A string is any sequence of 4 or more printing characters ending with a
newline or null character. The strings command is useful for identify‐
ing random object files.
[Tru64 UNIX] If file specifies an archive file, output is generated
for each archive member as if the command had been run on each archive
member as a separate file. If -t is specified, the file offsets shown
are relative to the beginning of the archive.
[Tru64 UNIX] The -a and -c options modify the default behavior of
searching only in the initialized data space of object files.
NOTES
[Tru64 UNIX] The -t format option should be used when multiple files
are specified as input. Without this option, it is not possible to
determine which string is associated with which file.
EXIT STATUS
The following exit values are returned: Successful completion. An
error occurred.
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
The following environment variables affect the execution of strings:
Provides a default value for the internationalization variables that
are unset or null. If LANG is unset or null, the corresponding value
from the default locale is used. If any of the internationalization
variables contain an invalid setting, the utility behaves as if none of
the variables had been defined. If set to a non-empty string value,
overrides the values of all the other internationalization variables.
Determines the locale for the interpretation of sequences of bytes of
text data as characters (for example, single-byte as opposed to multi‐
byte characters in arguments and input files) and to identify printable
strings. Determines the locale for the format and contents of diagnos‐
tic messages written to standard error. Determines the location of
message catalogues for the processing of LC_MESSAGES.
SEE ALSO
Commands: nm(1), od(1)
Standards: standards(5)strings(1)
