nm

'nm' is a command line tool used on Unix-like systems to analyze and display information about object files. It stands for "name list" and provides details about the symbols defined and used in a compiled program.

1. One primary use of 'nm' is to list the symbols (functions, variables, etc.) present in an object file or an executable.
2. It can be used on various types of object files, including static libraries, shared libraries, and executables.
3. The output of 'nm' includes the name of each symbol, its type (function, data, etc.), and its virtual memory address.
4. The tool categorizes symbols as either external (visible outside the object file) or internal (only visible within the file).
5. 'nm' can display the symbols in various formats, including raw symbol table format, hexadecimal, or demangled C++ symbols.
6. It can also provide additional information about each symbol, such as size, sections, and associated files.
7. By default, 'nm' displays symbols in alphabetical order, but it can also sort them by address or by type.
8. The tool can be used to verify symbol dependencies, check for missing or duplicate symbols, and inspect the symbol table of an executable.
9. 'nm' can be combined with other tools, such as 'grep' and 'sed', to filter or modify the output based on specific criteria.
10. It is a versatile and powerful tool that aids in understanding and debugging compiled programs by examining their symbol tables.