--- name: "gold" section: "1" platform: "linux" package: "binutils-common" version: "2.40-2" release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/ld.gold" --- # gold(1) The GNU ELF linker Part of [ld.gold(1)](/ld.gold/1.md). ## NAME gold - The GNU ELF linker ## SYNOPSIS **ld.gold** \[*options*\] *file*... ## OPTIONS - **--help** Report usage information - **-v**, **--version** Report version information - **-V** Report version and target information - **--add-needed** Not supported - **--no-add-needed** Do not copy DT\_NEEDED tags from shared libraries (default) **--allow-multiple-definition** Allow multiple definitions of symbols - **--no-allow-multiple-definition** Do not allow multiple definitions (default) - **--allow-shlib-undefined** Allow unresolved references in shared libraries - **--no-allow-shlib-undefined** Do not allow unresolved references in shared libraries (default) - **--apply-dynamic-relocs** Apply link-time values for dynamic relocations (default) - **--no-apply-dynamic-relocs** (aarch64 only) Do not apply link-time values for dynamic relocations - **--as-needed** Use DT\_NEEDED only for shared libraries that are used - **--no-as-needed** Use DT\_NEEDED for all shared libraries (default) - **-assert** \[ignored\] Ignored - **-b** \[elf,binary\], **--format** \[elf,binary\] Set input format - **--be8** Output BE8 format image - **--build-id** \[=STYLE\] Generate build ID note - **--build-id-chunk-size-for-treehash** SIZE Chunk size for '--build-id=tree' - **--build-id-min-file-size-for-treehash** SIZE Minimum output file size for '--build-id=tree' to work differently than '--build-id=sha1' **-Bdynamic** **-l** searches for shared libraries (default) **-Bstatic** **-l** does not search for shared libraries - **-dy** alias for **-Bdynamic** (default) - **-dn** alias for **-Bstatic** - **-Bgroup** Use group name lookup rules for shared library - **-Bshareable** Generate shared library (alias for **-G**/-shared) - **-Bno-symbolic** Don't bind default visibility defined symbols locally for **-shared** (default) - **-Bsymbolic-functions** Bind default visibility defined function symbols locally for **-shared** - **-Bsymbolic** Bind default visibility defined symbols locally for **-shared** - **--check-sections** Check segment addresses for overlaps (default) - **--no-check-sections** Do not check segment addresses for overlaps - **--compress-debug-sections** \[none,zlib,zlib-gnu,zlib-gabi,zstd\] Compress .debug\_\* sections in the output file - **--copy-dt-needed-entries** Not supported **--no-copy-dt-needed-entries** Do not copy DT\_NEEDED tags from shared libraries (default) - **--cref** Output cross reference table - **--no-cref** Do not output cross reference table (default) - **--ctors-in-init-array** Use DT\_INIT\_ARRAY for all constructors (default) - **--no-ctors-in-init-array** Handle constructors as directed by compiler - **-d**, **--define-common** Define common symbols - **--no-define-common** Do not define common symbols in relocatable output (default) - **-dc** Alias for **-d** - **-dp** Alias for **-d** - **--debug** \[all,files,script,task\]\[,...\] Turn on debugging - **--defsym** SYMBOL=EXPRESSION Define a symbol - **--demangle** \[=STYLE\] Demangle C++ symbols in log messages - **--no-demangle** Do not demangle C++ symbols in log messages - **--dependency-file** FILE Write a dependency file listing all files read - **--detect-odr-violations** Look for violations of the C++ One Definition Rule - **--no-detect-odr-violations** Do not look for violations of the C++ One Definition Rule (default) - **--dynamic-list-data** Add data symbols to dynamic symbols - **--dynamic-list-cpp-new** Add C++ operator new/delete to dynamic symbols **--dynamic-list-cpp-typeinfo** Add C++ typeinfo to dynamic symbols - **--dynamic-list** FILE Read a list of dynamic symbols - **--emit-stub-syms** (PowerPC only) Label linker stubs with a symbol (default) - **--no-emit-stub-syms** (PowerPC only) Do not label linker stubs with a symbol **-e** ADDRESS, **--entry** ADDRESS Set program start address - **--eh-frame-hdr** Create exception frame header - **--no-eh-frame-hdr** Do not create exception frame header (default) - **--enable-new-dtags** Enable use of DT\_RUNPATH (default) - **--disable-new-dtags** Disable use of DT\_RUNPATH - **--no-enum-size-warning** (ARM only) Do not warn about objects with incompatible enum sizes - **--exclude-libs** lib,lib ... Exclude libraries from automatic export - **-E**, **--export-dynamic** Export all dynamic symbols - **--no-export-dynamic** Do not export all dynamic symbols (default) - **--export-dynamic-symbol** SYMBOL Export SYMBOL to dynamic symbol table - **-EB** Link big-endian objects. - **-EL** Link little-endian objects. **-f** SHLIB, **--auxiliary** SHLIB Auxiliary filter for shared object symbol table - **-F** SHLIB, **--filter** SHLIB Filter for shared object symbol table - **--fatal-warnings** Treat warnings as errors - **--no-fatal-warnings** Do not treat warnings as errors (default) - **-fini** SYMBOL Call SYMBOL at unload-time - **--fix-arm1176** (ARM only) Fix binaries for ARM1176 erratum (default) - **--no-fix-arm1176** (ARM only) Do not fix binaries for ARM1176 erratum - **--fix-cortex-a8** (ARM only) Fix binaries for Cortex-A8 erratum - **--no-fix-cortex-a8** (ARM only) Do not fix binaries for Cortex-A8 erratum (default) - **--fix-cortex-a53-843419** (AArch64 only) Fix Cortex-A53 erratum 843419 - **--no-fix-cortex-a53-843419** (AArch64 only) Do not fix Cortex-A53 erratum 843419 (default) - **--fix-cortex-a53-835769** (AArch64 only) Fix Cortex-A53 erratum 835769 - **--no-fix-cortex-a53-835769** (AArch64 only) Do not fix Cortex-A53 erratum 835769 (default) - **--fix-v4bx** (ARM only) Rewrite BX rn as MOV pc, rn for ARMv4 - **--fix-v4bx-interworking** (ARM only) Rewrite BX rn branch to ARMv4 interworking veneer - **-fuse-ld** \[gold,bfd\] Ignored for GCC linker option compatibility - **-g** Ignored - **--gc-sections** Remove unused sections - **--no-gc-sections** Don't remove unused sections (default) - **--gdb-index** Generate .gdb\_index section - **--no-gdb-index** Do not generate .gdb\_index section (default) - **--gnu-unique** Enable STB\_GNU\_UNIQUE symbol binding (default) - **--no-gnu-unique** Disable STB\_GNU\_UNIQUE symbol binding - **-G**, **-shared** Generate shared library - **-h** FILENAME, **-soname** FILENAME Set shared library name - **--hash-bucket-empty-fraction** FRACTION Min fraction of empty buckets in dynamic hash - **--hash-style** \[sysv,gnu,both\] Dynamic hash style - **-i** Alias for **-r** - **--icf** \[none,all,safe\] Identical Code Folding. '--icf=safe' Folds ctors, dtors and functions whose pointers are definitely not taken - **--icf-iterations** COUNT Number of iterations of ICF (default 3) - **--incremental** Do an incremental link if possible; otherwise, do a full link and prepare output for incremental linking - **--no-incremental** Do a full link (default) - **--incremental-full** Do a full link and prepare output for incremental linking - **--incremental-update** Do an incremental link; exit if not possible - **--incremental-base** FILE Set base file for incremental linking (default is output file) - **--incremental-changed** Assume files changed - **--incremental-unchanged** Assume files didn't change - **--incremental-unknown** Use timestamps to check files (default) - **--incremental-startup-unchanged** Assume startup files unchanged (files preceding this option) **--incremental-patch** PERCENT Amount of extra space to allocate for patches (default 10) - **-init** SYMBOL Call SYMBOL at load-time - **-I** PROGRAM, **--dynamic-linker** PROGRAM Set dynamic linker path - **--just-symbols** FILE Read only symbol values from FILE - **--keep-files-mapped** Keep files mapped across passes (default on 64bit architectures) - **--no-keep-files-mapped** Release mapped files after each pass (default on 32bit architectures) - **--keep-unique** SYMBOL Do not fold this symbol during ICF - **-l** LIBNAME, **--library** LIBNAME Search for library LIBNAME - **--ld-generated-unwind-info** Generate unwind information for PLT (default) - **--no-ld-generated-unwind-info** Do not generate unwind information for PLT - **-L** DIR, **--library-path** DIR Add directory to search path - **--long-plt** (ARM only) Generate long PLT entries - **--no-long-plt** (ARM only) Do not generate long PLT entries (default) - **-m** EMULATION Set GNU linker emulation; obsolete - **--map-whole-files** Map whole files to memory (default on 64bit architectures) - **--no-map-whole-files** Map relevant file parts to memory (default on 32bit architectures) - **--merge-exidx-entries** (ARM only) Merge exidx entries in debuginfo (default) - **--no-merge-exidx-entries** (ARM only) Do not merge exidx entries in debuginfo - **--mmap-output-file** Map the output file for writing (default) - **--no-mmap-output-file** Do not map the output file for writing - **-M**, **--print-map** Write map file on standard output - **-Map** MAPFILENAME Write map file - **-n**, **--nmagic** Do not page align data - **-N**, **--omagic** Do not page align data, do not make text readonly - **--no-omagic** Page align data, make text readonly (default) - **--no-keep-memory** Use less memory and more disk I/O (included only for compatibility with GNU ld) - **--no-undefined** Report undefined symbols (even with **--shared**) - **--noinhibit-exec** Create an output file even if errors occur - **-nostdlib** Only search directories specified on the command line - **-o** FILE, **--output** FILE Set output file name - **--oformat** \[binary\] Set output format - **-O** LEVEL, **-optimize** LEVEL Optimize output file size - **--orphan-handling** \[place,discard,warn,error\] Orphan section handling - **-p** Ignored for ARM compatibility - **--package-metadata** \[=JSON\] Generate package metadata note - **-pie** Create a position independent executable - **-no-pie** Do not create a position independent executable (default) - **--pic-executable** Create a position independent executable - **--no-pic-executable** Do not create a position independent executable (default) - **--pic-veneer** Force PIC sequences for ARM/Thumb interworking veneers - **-no-pipeline-knowledge** (ARM only) Ignore for backward compatibility (default) - **--plt-align** \[=P2ALIGN\] (PowerPC only) Align PLT call stubs to fit cache lines - **--plt-localentry** (PowerPC64 only) Optimize calls to ELFv2 localentry:0 functions - **--no-plt-localentry** (PowerPC64 only) Don't optimize ELFv2 calls (default) - **--plt-static-chain** (PowerPC64 only) PLT call stubs should load r11 - **--no-plt-static-chain** (PowerPC64 only) PLT call stubs should not load r11 (default) - **--plt-thread-safe** (PowerPC64 only) PLT call stubs with load-load barrier - **--no-plt-thread-safe** (PowerPC64 only) PLT call stubs without barrier (default) - **--plugin** PLUGIN Load a plugin library - **--plugin-opt** OPTION Pass an option to the plugin - **--posix-fallocate** Use posix\_fallocate to reserve space in the output file (default) - **--no-posix-fallocate** Use fallocate or ftruncate to reserve space - **--power10-stubs** \[=auto,no,yes\] (PowerPC64 only) stubs use power10 insns - **--no-power10-stubs** (PowerPC64 only) stubs do not use power10 insns - **--preread-archive-symbols** Preread archive symbols when multi-threaded - **--print-gc-sections** List removed unused sections on stderr - **--no-print-gc-sections** Do not list removed unused sections (default) - **--print-icf-sections** List folded identical sections on stderr - **--no-print-icf-sections** Do not list folded identical sections (default) - **--print-output-format** Print default output format - **--print-symbol-counts** FILENAME Print symbols defined and used for each input - **--push-state** Save the state of flags related to input files - **--pop-state** Restore the state of flags related to input files - **-q**, **--emit-relocs** Generate relocations in output - **-Qy** Ignored for SVR4 compatibility - **-r**, **-relocatable** Generate relocatable output - **--relax** Relax branches on certain targets - **--no-relax** Do not relax branches (default) - **--retain-symbols-file** FILE keep only symbols listed in this file - **--rosegment** Put read-only non-executable sections in their own segment - **--no-rosegment** Do not put read-only non-executable sections in their own segment (default) - **--rosegment-gap** OFFSET Set offset between executable and read-only segments - **-R** DIR Add DIR to runtime search path - **-rpath** DIR Add DIR to runtime search path - **--rpath-link** DIR Add DIR to link time shared library search path - **-s**, **--strip-all** Strip all symbols - **-S**, **--strip-debug** Strip debugging information - **--strip-debug-non-line** Emit only debug line number information - **--strip-debug-gdb** Strip debug symbols that are unused by gdb (at least versions \<= 7.4) - **--strip-lto-sections** Strip LTO intermediate code sections (default) - **--section-ordering-file** FILENAME Layout sections in the order specified - **--section-start** SECTION=ADDRESS Set address of section - **--secure-plt** (PowerPC only) Use new-style PLT (default) - **--sort-common** \[={ascending,descending}\] Sort common symbols by alignment - **--sort-section** \[none,name\] Sort sections by name. '--no-text-reorder' will override '--sort-section=name' for .text - **--spare-dynamic-tags** COUNT Dynamic tag slots to reserve (default 5) - **--stub-group-size** SIZE (ARM, PowerPC only) The maximum distance from instructions in a group of sections to their stubs. Negative values mean stubs are always after the group. 1 means use default size - **--stub-group-multi** (PowerPC only) Allow a group of stubs to serve multiple output sections (default) - **--no-stub-group-multi** (PowerPC only) Each output section has its own stubs - **--split-stack-adjust-size** SIZE Stack size when **-fsplit-stack** function calls non-split - **-static** Do not link against shared libraries - **--start-lib** Start a library - **--end-lib** End a library - **--stats** Print resource usage statistics - **--sysroot** DIR Set target system root directory - **-t**, **--trace** Print the name of each input file - **--target1-abs** (ARM only) Force R\_ARM\_TARGET1 type to R\_ARM\_ABS32 - **--target1-rel** (ARM only) Force R\_ARM\_TARGET1 type to R\_ARM\_REL32 - **--target2** \[rel, abs, got-rel (ARM only) Set R\_ARM\_TARGET2 relocation type - **--text-reorder** Enable text section reordering for GCC section names (default) - **--no-text-reorder** Disable text section reordering for GCC section names - **--threads** Run the linker multi-threaded - **--no-threads** Do not run the linker multi-threaded (default) - **--thread-count** COUNT Number of threads to use - **--thread-count-initial** COUNT Number of threads to use in initial pass **--thread-count-middle** COUNT Number of threads to use in middle pass - **--thread-count-final** COUNT Number of threads to use in final pass - **--tls-optimize** (PowerPC/64 only) Optimize GD/LD/IE code to IE/LE (default) - **--no-tls-optimize** (PowerPC/64 only) Don'''t try to optimize TLS accesses - **--tls-get-addr-optimize** (PowerPC/64 only) Use a special \_\_tls\_get\_addr call (default) - **--no-tls-get-addr-optimize** (PowerPC/64 only) Don't use a special \_\_tls\_get\_addr call - **--toc-optimize** (PowerPC64 only) Optimize TOC code sequences (default) - **--no-toc-optimize** (PowerPC64 only) Don't optimize TOC code sequences - **--toc-sort** (PowerPC64 only) Sort TOC and GOT sections (default) - **--no-toc-sort** (PowerPC64 only) Don't sort TOC and GOT sections - **-T** FILE, **--script** FILE Read linker script - **-Tbss** ADDRESS Set the address of the bss segment - **-Tdata** ADDRESS Set the address of the data segment - **-Ttext** ADDRESS Set the address of the text segment - **-Ttext-segment** ADDRESS Set the address of the text segment - **-Trodata-segment** ADDRESS Set the address of the rodata segment - **-u** SYMBOL, **--undefined** SYMBOL Create undefined reference to SYMBOL - **--unresolved-symbols** ignore-all,report-all,ignore-in-object-files,ignore-in-shared-libs How to handle unresolved symbols - **--verbose** Alias for **--debug**=*files* - **--version-script** FILE Read version script - **--warn-common** Warn about duplicate common symbols - **--no-warn-common** Do not warn about duplicate common symbols (default) - **--warn-constructors** Ignored - **--no-warn-constructors** Ignored - **--warn-drop-version** Warn when discarding version information - **--no-warn-drop-version** Do not warn when discarding version information (default) - **--warn-execstack** Warn if the stack is executable - **--no-warn-execstack** Do not warn if the stack is executable (default) - **--no-warn-mismatch** Don't warn about mismatched input files - **--warn-multiple-gp** Ignored - **--warn-search-mismatch** Warn when skipping an incompatible library (default) - **--no-warn-search-mismatch** Don't warn when skipping an incompatible library - **--warn-shared-textrel** Warn if text segment is not shareable - **--no-warn-shared-textrel** Do not warn if text segment is not shareable (default) - **--warn-unresolved-symbols** Report unresolved symbols as warnings - **--error-unresolved-symbols** Report unresolved symbols as errors (default) - **-z** buildd Dummy z option - **--no-wchar-size-warning** (ARM only) Do not warn about objects with incompatible wchar\_t sizes - **--weak-unresolved-symbols** Convert unresolved symbols to weak references - **--whole-archive** Include all archive contents - **--no-whole-archive** Include only needed archive contents (default) - **--wrap** SYMBOL Use wrapper functions for SYMBOL - **-x**, **--discard-all** Delete all local symbols - **-X**, **--discard-locals** Delete all temporary local symbols - **--discard-none** Keep all local symbols - **-y** SYMBOL, **--trace-symbol** SYMBOL Trace references to symbol - **--undefined-version** Allow unused version in script (default) - **--no-undefined-version** Do not allow unused version in script - **-Y** PATH Default search path for Solaris compatibility - \-(, **--start-group** Start a library search group - \-), **--end-group** End a library search group - **-z** combreloc Sort dynamic relocs (default) - **-z** nocombreloc Do not sort dynamic relocs - **-z** common-page-size=SIZE Set common page size to SIZE - **-z** defs Report undefined symbols (even with **--shared**) - **-z** execstack Mark output as requiring executable stack - **-z** global Make symbols in DSO available for subsequently loaded objects - **-z** initfirst Mark DSO to be initialized first at runtime - **-z** interpose Mark object to interpose all DSOs but executable - **-z** unique Mark DSO to be loaded at most once, and only in the main namespace - **-z** nounique Do not mark the DSO as one to be loaded only in the main namespace (default) - **-z** lazy Mark object for lazy runtime binding (default) - **-z** loadfltr Mark object requiring immediate process - **-z** max-page-size=SIZE Set maximum page size to SIZE - **-z** muldefs Allow multiple definitions of symbols - **-z** nocopyreloc Do not create copy relocs - **-z** nodefaultlib Mark object not to use default search paths - **-z** nodelete Mark DSO non-deletable at runtime - **-z** nodlopen Mark DSO not available to dlopen - **-z** nodump Mark DSO not available to dldump - **-z** noexecstack Mark output as not requiring executable stack - **-z** now Mark object for immediate function binding - **-z** origin Mark DSO to indicate that needs immediate $ORIGIN processing at runtime - **-z** relro Where possible mark variables read-only after relocation (default) - **-z** norelro Don't mark variables read-only after relocation - **-z** stack-size=SIZE Set PT\_GNU\_STACK segment p\_memsz to SIZE - **-z** start-stop-visibility=\[default,internal,hidden,protected\] ELF symbol visibility for synthesized \_\_start\_\* and \_\_stop\_\* symbols - **-z** text Do not permit relocations in read-only segments - **-z** notext Permit relocations in read-only segments (default) - **-z** textoff Permit relocations in read-only segments (default) - **-z** text-unlikely-segment Move .text.unlikely sections to a separate segment. - **-z** notext-unlikely-segment Do not move .text.unlikely sections to a separate segment. (default) **-z** keep-text-section-prefix Keep .text.hot, .text.startup, .text.exit and .text.unlikely as separate sections in the final binary. - **-z** nokeep-text-section-prefix Merge all .text.\* prefix sections. (default) Run gold --help for a list of supported targets and emulations. ## REPORTING BUGS Report bugs to \ ## COPYRIGHT Copyright © 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc. This program is free software; you may redistribute it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3 or (at your option) a later version. This program has absolutely no warranty.