---
name: "elf_getarhdr"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "libelf"
version: "0.197-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/elf_getarhdr"
---

# elf\_getarhdr(3)

retrieve archive member header information

## NAME

elf\_getarhdr - retrieve archive member header information

## SYNOPSIS

```
#include <libelf.h>
Elf_Arhdr *elf_getarhdr(Elf *elf);
```

## DESCRIPTION

Return a **Elf\_Arhdr \*** describing the archive header of the archive member currently referred to by an ELF descriptor.

The **Elf\_Arhdr** structure is defined as:

```
typedef struct {
  char *ar_name;                /* Name of archive member.  */
  time_t ar_date;               /* File date.  */
  uid_t ar_uid;                 /* User ID.  */
  gid_t ar_gid;                 /* Group ID.  */
  mode_t ar_mode;               /* File mode.  */
  int64_t ar_size;              /* File size.  */
  char *ar_rawname;             /* Original name of archive member.  */
} Elf_Arhdr;
```

## PARAMETERS

- *elf*

  An ELF descriptor referring to a member of an archive file.

## RETURN VALUE

If *elf* refers to an archive member, **elf\_getarhdr()** returns a pointer to its archive header. This pointer is valid until *elf* or the parent archive Elf descriptor are closed using **elf\_end()**. If *elf* does not refer to an archive member or the header cannot be acquired then NULL is returned.

## SEE ALSO

[**elf\_begin**(3)](/elf_begin/3.md), [**elf\_getaroff**(3)](/elf_getaroff/3.md), [**elf\_next**(3)](/elf_next/3.md), [**elf\_rand**(3)](/elf_rand/3.md), [**libelf**(3)](/libelf/3.md), [**elf**(5)](/elf/5.md)

## ATTRIBUTES

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Interface** | **Attribute** | **Value** |
| **elf\_getarhdr**() | Thread safety | MT-safe |

## REPORTING BUGS

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