---
name: "ctfconvert"
section: "1"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ctfconvert"
---

# ctfconvert(1)

convert debug data to Compact C Type Format data

## NAME

**ctfconvert** – convert debug data to Compact C Type Format data

## SYNOPSIS

**ctfconvert** \[**-gis**\] **-L** *labelenv* **-l** *label* \[**-o** *outfile*\] object\_file

## DESCRIPTION

The **ctfconvert** utility converts debug information from a binary file to CTF (Compact C Type Format) data and replaces the debug section of that file with a CTF section called SUNW\_ctf. This new section is added to the input file, unless the **-o** option is present. You can also opt to keep the original debugging section with the **-g** option.

The following options are available:

- **-g**

  Don't delete the original debugging section.

- **-i**

  Ignore object files built from other languages than C.

- **-L** *labelenv*

  Instructs **ctfconvert** to read the label from the labelenv environment variable.

- **-l** *label*

  Sets the label as *label*.

- **-o** *outfile*

  Write the output to file in *outfile*.

- **-s**

  Use the .dynsym ELF section instead of the .symtab ELF section.

## EXIT STATUS

The **ctfconvert** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## SEE ALSO

[ctfdump(1)](/ctfdump/1.md), [ctfmerge(1)](/ctfmerge/1.md), [ctf(5)](/ctf/5.md)

## HISTORY

The **ctfconvert** utility first appeared in FreeBSD 7.0.

## AUTHORS

The CTF utilities came from OpenSolaris.