strings(1)
NAME
strings − find printable strings in an object or other binary file
SYNOPSIS
strings [ − ] [ −o ] [ −number ] file ...
DESCRIPTION
strings looks for text strings in a binary file. A string is any sequence of 4 or more printing characters, tabs, and formfeeds ending with a newline or a null. Unless the − flag is given, strings only looks in the initialized data space of object files. If the −o flag is given, then each string is preceded by its offset in the file (in octal). If the −number flag is given then number is used as the minimum string length rather than 4.
strings is useful for identifying random object files and many other things.
SEE ALSO
BUGS
The algorithm for identifying strings is extremely primitive.
CX/UX User’s Reference Manual