# Object file symbols

The object file symbols utility lists the symbols in the specified executable files, object files, or object library files.

If no input files are specified, the utility attempts to read from `a.out`.

Note

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

## Command

To start the object files symbols utility from the command line:

hexagon-nm [<option...>] [<file...>]
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Where &lt;option&gt; is one or more of the following:

--debug-syms      | -a
    --defined-only
    --dynamic         | -D
    -e
    -f
    --format=<format> | -F <format>
    -B
    -P
    -o
    -g
    --help            | -h
    --no-sort         | -p
    --numeric-sort    | -n  | -v
    --print-armap     | -s
    --print-file-name | -A
    --print-size      | -S
    --radix=<radix>   | -t <radix>
    -x
    --reverse-sort    | -r
    --size-sort
    --undefined-only  | -u
    --version         | -V
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## Options

--debug-syms
    -a
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Display all symbols, including debugger-only symbols.

--defined-only
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Display only defined symbols.

--dynamic
    -D
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Display only dynamic symbols. This option is meaningful only for shared libraries.

-e
    
    Display information only for global and static symbols.
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-f
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Display full output. (Default)

--format=<format>
    -F <format>
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Display output in the specified format. The possible values are:

- `bsd` - BSD (Default)
- `sysv` - System V
- `posix` - POSIX

-B
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Equivalent to `--format=bsd`.

-P
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Equivalent to `--format=posix`.

-o
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If POSIX output was specified (using `-F posix` or `-P`), this option is
equivalent to `--radix=o`.

If POSIX output was not specified, it is equivalent to `--print-file-name`.

-g
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Display information only for global (external) symbols.

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

--no-sort
    -p
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Do not sort symbols.

--numeric-sort
    -n
    -v
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Sort symbols numerically by address instead of alphabetically by name.

--print-armap
    -s
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For archives, include the index of the archive’s members.

--print-file-name
    -A
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Write the full path name or library name of an object on each line, before the rest of the information for a symbol.

If this option is not specified, the utility identifies an input file only once, before its symbols are listed.

--print-size
    -S
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Print the size of each symbol instead of its value.

--radix=<radix>
    -t <radix>
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Print numeric values using the specified radix. The possible values are:

- `d` - Decimal (Default)
- `o` - Octal
- `x` - Hexadecimal

-x
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Write numeric values in hexadecimal (equivalent to `-t x`).

--reverse-sort
    -r
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Reverse the order of the sort.

--size-sort
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Sort symbols by size instead of alphabetically by name.

--undefined-only
    -u
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Display only undefined symbols.

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

## Output formats

The object file symbols utility can display information in a number of formats, numeric radices, and sort orders.

By default it uses BSD-style output, hexadecimal radix, no alphabetic sorting by name, and no name demangling.

For each symbol listed, the utility presents the following information:

- The library or object name (if `-A` or `--print-file-name` were specified)
- The symbol name
- The symbol type (denoted by a single character):

    - `A` - Global absolute symbol
    - `B` - Global bss symbol (uninitialized data)
    - `C` - Common symbol (representing uninitialized data)
    - `D` - Global symbol naming initialized data
    - `N` - Debugger symbol
    - `R` - Read-only data symbol
    - `T` - Global text symbol
    - `U` - Undefined symbol
    - `V` - Weak object
    - `W` - Weak reference
    - `a` - Local absolute symbol
    - `b` - Local bss symbol (uninitialized data)
    - `d` - Local data symbol
    - `t` - Local text symbol
    - `v` - Weak object that is undefined
    - `w` - Weak symbol that is undefined
    - `?` - None of the above
- The symbol value
- The symbol size (if applicable)

Last Published: Oct 06, 2026

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