Link (Computer Systems)

• in object code, all referenced memories are left empty 0.
• the linker will later produce an executable with all references combined.

Linker's Tasks

• Symbol Resolution (Function names, Global variables, Static variables ... )
• Memory Relocation (Modify reference addresses to the final memory location)

Object Files

• Relocatable (.o): Code + Data + Metadata
• Executable (./executable): Binary that OS loader can read and execute
• Shared Object File (.so): Dynamically linked at load & runtime

Linux uses ELF