---
name: "pcap-config"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libpcap"
version: "1.11.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pcap-config"
---

# pcap-config(1)

write libpcap compiler and linker flags to standard output

## NAME

pcap-config - write libpcap compiler and linker flags to standard output

## SYNOPSIS

**pcap-config** \[ **--help** \] \[ **--version** \] \[ **--cflags** \] \[ **--libs** \| **--additional-libs** \] \[ **--static** \| **--static-pcap-only** \]

## DESCRIPTION

*pcap-config* writes to the standard output various compiler and linker flags required to build a user program with libpcap.  By default, it writes flags appropriate for building with a dynamically-linked version of libpcap; see below for static linking.  Depending on the manner of libpcap installation, some options or their combinations may produce empty output - this is by design.

## OPTIONS

- **--help**

  Produce a help message and exit.

- **--version**

  Produce libpcap version and exit.  The version is the contents of *VERSION* file in libpcap source tree rather than the result of **pcap\_lib\_version**(3PCAP).

- **--cflags**

  Produce the **-I** compiler flag required to include libpcap's header files.

- **--libs**

  Produce the **-L** and **-l** linker flags required to link with libpcap, including **-l** flags for libraries required by libpcap.

- **--additional-libs**

  Produce the **-L** and **-l** linker flags for libraries required by libpcap, but not the **-l** flag to link with libpcap itself.

- **--static**

  This option causes **--libs** and **--additional-libs** to produce linker flags appropriate for static linking with libpcap.

- **--static-pcap-only**

  This option causes **--libs** and **--additional-libs** to produce linker flags appropriate for static linking with libpcap and dynamic linking with all other libraries, including libraries required by libpcap.

## EXIT STATUS

*pcap-config* exits with a non-zero status when invoked with an invalid command-line option, and with status 0 otherwise.

## BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY

The **--version** flag became available in libpcap release 1.10.3.

Before libpcap release 1.10.2 *pcap-config* did not treat invalid command-line options as an error. The **--static-pcap-only** flag became available in libpcap release 1.10.2.

The **--static** flag became available in libpcap release 1.1.0.

## SEE ALSO

[**pkg-config**(1)](/pkg-config/1.md), **pcap**(3PCAP)