elf_kind(3E)                                            elf_kind(3E)


       NAME
             elf_kind - determine file type

       SYNOPSIS
             cc [flag . . . ] file . . . -lelf [library] . . .
             #include <libelf.h>
             Elf_Kind elf_kind(Elf *elf);

       DESCRIPTION
             This function returns a value identifying the kind of file
             associated with an ELF descriptor elf.  Currently defined
             values appear below.

             ELF_K_AR        The file is an archive [see ar(4)].  An ELF
                             descriptor may also be associated with an
                             archive member, not the archive itself, and
                             then elf_kind identifies the member's type.

             ELF_K_COFF      The file is a COFF object file.  elf_begin(3E)
                             describes the library's handling for COFF
                             files.

             ELF_K_ELF       The file is an ELF file.  The program may use
                             elf_getident to determine the class.  Other
                             functions, such as elf_getehdr, are available
                             to retrieve other file information.

             ELF_K_NONE      This indicates a kind of file unknown to the
                             library.

             Other values are reserved, to be assigned as needed to new
             kinds of files.  elf should be a value previously returned by
             elf_begin.  A null pointer is allowed, to simplify error
             handling, and causes elf_kind to return ELF_K_NONE.

       REFERENCES
             ar(4), elf(3E), elf_begin(3E), elf_getehdr(3E),
             elf_getident(3E)










                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1