NAME

strings − find the printable strings in a object, or other binary, file

SYNOPSIS

strings [ − ] [ −a ] [ −o ] [ −number ] [file ...]

DESCRIPTION

Strings looks for ASCII strings in a binary file or standard input.  Strings is useful for identifying random object files and many other things.  A string is any sequence of 4 (the default) or more printing characters ending with a newline or a null.  Unless the − flag is given, strings looks in most sections of the object files except the (__TEXT,__text) section.  If no files are specified standard input is read.

The options to strings(1) are:

−a This option causes strings to look for strings in most sections of the object file (including the (__TEXT,__text) section (but not core files).

− This option causes strings to look for strings in all bytes of non-object files. 

−o Preceded each string by its offset in the file (in decimal). 

−number
The decimal number is used as the minimum string length rather than the default of 4. 

SEE ALSO

od(1)

BUGS

The algorithm for identifying strings is extremely primitive. 

NeXT Computer, Inc.  —  October 22, 1991