elf_kind(3elf)

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(3elf) 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), Intro(3elf), elf_begin(3elf), elf_getehdr(3elf), elf_getident(3elf)