# Object file strings

The object file strings utility displays the printable character strings contained in the specified files. The files can be object files, archive files, or arbitrary data files.

To control the utility output, specify the minimum length of the strings to be displayed. If no input files are specified, the utility attempts to read from the standard input.

Note

This utility returns zero on success, or greater than zero if an error occurs.

## Command

To start the object file strings utility from the command line:

hexagon-llvm-strings [<option...>] [<file...>]
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Where `<option>` is one or more of the following:

--all                 | -a
    --bytes=<number>      | -n <number> | -<number>
    --help                | -h
    --print-file-name     | -f
    --radix=<radix>       | -t <radix>  | -o
    --version             | -v
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## Options

--all
    -a
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For ELF objects, scan the entire file for printable strings.

--bytes=<number>
    -n <number>
    -<number>
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Print a contiguous character sequence only if it is at least the specified number of characters long. The default length is four characters.

--help
    -h
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Display command usage information and then exit.

--print-file-name
    -f
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Print the name of the file before each string.

--radix=<radix>
    -t <radix>
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Print the file-relative offset of the string before each string. The offset is displayed in the specified radix.

The possible values are:

- `d` - Decimal
- `o` - Octal
- `x` - Hexadecimal

-o
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Equivalent to `-t o`.

--version
    -v
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Display the utility version identifier and then exit.

## Examples

Strings in `/bin/ls`:

$ hexagon-llvm-strings /bin/ls
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Strings in all sections of `/bin/ln`:

$ hexagon-llvm-strings -a /bin/ln
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Strings in all sections of /bin/cat, prefixed with the file name and file-relative offset:

$ hexagon-llvm-strings -a -f -t x /bin/cat
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Last Published: Oct 06, 2026

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