{
    "mode": "man",
    "parameter": "strings",
    "section": "1",
    "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/strings/1/json",
    "generated": "2026-08-31T01:53:22Z",
    "synopsis": "strings [-afovV] [-min-len]\n[-n min-len] [--bytes=min-len]\n[-t radix] [--radix=radix]\n[-e encoding] [--encoding=encoding]\n[-U method] [--unicode=method]\n[-] [--all] [--print-file-name]\n[-T bfdname] [--target=bfdname]\n[-w] [--include-all-whitespace]\n[-s] [--output-separator sepstring]\n[--help] [--version] file...",
    "sections": {
        "NAME": {
            "content": "strings - print the sequences of printable characters in files\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "SYNOPSIS": {
            "content": "strings [-afovV] [-min-len]\n[-n min-len] [--bytes=min-len]\n[-t radix] [--radix=radix]\n[-e encoding] [--encoding=encoding]\n[-U method] [--unicode=method]\n[-] [--all] [--print-file-name]\n[-T bfdname] [--target=bfdname]\n[-w] [--include-all-whitespace]\n[-s] [--output-separator sepstring]\n[--help] [--version] file...\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "DESCRIPTION": {
            "content": "For each file given, GNU strings prints the printable character sequences that are at least 4\ncharacters long (or the number given with the options below) and are followed by an\nunprintable character.\n\nDepending upon how the strings program was configured it will default to either displaying\nall the printable sequences that it can find in each file, or only those sequences that are\nin loadable, initialized data sections.  If the file type is unrecognizable, or if strings is\nreading from stdin then it will always display all of the printable sequences that it can\nfind.\n\nFor backwards compatibility any file that occurs after a command-line option of just - will\nalso be scanned in full, regardless of the presence of any -d option.\n\nstrings is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text files.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "OPTIONS": {
            "content": "",
            "subsections": [
                {
                    "name": "-a",
                    "content": "",
                    "flag": "-a"
                },
                {
                    "name": "--all",
                    "content": "-   Scan  the  whole  file, regardless of what sections it contains or whether those sections\nare loaded or initialized.  Normally this is the default behaviour, but  strings  can  be\nconfigured so that the -d is the default instead.\n\nThe  -  option is position dependent and forces strings to perform full scans of any file\nthat is mentioned after the - on the command  line,  even  if  the  -d  option  has  been\nspecified.\n",
                    "long": "--all"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-d",
                    "content": "",
                    "flag": "-d"
                },
                {
                    "name": "--data",
                    "content": "Only  print  strings from initialized, loaded data sections in the file.  This may reduce\nthe amount of garbage in the output, but it also  exposes  the  strings  program  to  any\nsecurity  flaws  that  may  be present in the BFD library used to scan and load sections.\nStrings can be configured so that this option is the default behaviour.   In  such  cases\nthe  -a  option  can be used to avoid using the BFD library and instead just print all of\nthe strings found in the file.\n",
                    "long": "--data"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-f",
                    "content": "",
                    "flag": "-f"
                },
                {
                    "name": "--print-file-name",
                    "content": "Print the name of the file before each string.\n",
                    "long": "--print-file-name"
                },
                {
                    "name": "--help",
                    "content": "Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit.\n",
                    "long": "--help"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-_",
                    "content": ""
                },
                {
                    "name": "-n _",
                    "content": "--bytes=min-len\nPrint sequences of displayable characters that are at least min-len characters long.   If\nnot specified a default minimum length of 4 is used.  The distinction between displayable\nand  non-displayable  characters  depends  upon  the  setting  of  the -e and -U options.\nSequences are always terminated at control characters  such  as  new-line  and  carriage-\nreturn, but not the tab character.\n",
                    "flag": "-n"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-o   -t  o -o  -t d",
                    "content": "not be compatible with both ways, we simply chose one.\n",
                    "flag": "-t"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-t _",
                    "content": "--radix=radix\nPrint the offset within the file before  each  string.   The  single  character  argument\nspecifies the radix of the offset---o for octal, x for hexadecimal, or d for decimal.\n",
                    "flag": "-t"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-e _",
                    "content": "--encoding=encoding\nSelect  the  character encoding of the strings that are to be found.  Possible values for\nencoding  are:  s  =  single-7-bit-byte  characters  (default),  S  =   single-8-bit-byte\ncharacters,  b  =  16-bit  bigendian,  l = 16-bit littleendian, B = 32-bit bigendian, L =\n32-bit littleendian.  Useful for finding wide character strings. (l and b apply  to,  for\nexample, Unicode UTF-16/UCS-2 encodings).\n",
                    "flag": "-e"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-U _",
                    "content": "--unicode=[default|invalid|locale|escape|hex|highlight]\nControls  the  display  of  UTF-8  encoded  multibyte characters in strings.  The default\n(--unicode=default) is to give them no special  treatment,  and  instead  rely  upon  the\nsetting  of the --encoding option.  The other values for this option automatically enable\n--encoding=S.\n\nThe --unicode=invalid option treats them as non-graphic characters and hence not part  of\na valid string.  All the remaining options treat them as valid string characters.\n\nThe  --unicode=locale  option  displays  them in the current locale, which may or may not\nsupport UTF-8 encoding.  The --unicode=hex option displays them  as  hex  byte  sequences\nenclosed  between  <>  characters.   The  --unicode=escape option displays them as escape\nsequences (\\uxxxx) and the --unicode=highlight option displays them as  escape  sequences\nhighlighted  in  red  (if  supported by the output device).  The colouring is intended to\ndraw attention to the presence of unicode sequences where they might not be expected.\n",
                    "flag": "-U"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-T _",
                    "content": "--target=bfdname\nSpecify an object code format other than your system's default format.\n",
                    "flag": "-T"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-v",
                    "content": "",
                    "flag": "-v"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-V",
                    "content": "",
                    "flag": "-V"
                },
                {
                    "name": "--version",
                    "content": "Print the program version number on the standard output and exit.\n",
                    "long": "--version"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-w",
                    "content": "",
                    "flag": "-w"
                },
                {
                    "name": "--include-all-whitespace",
                    "content": "By default tab and space characters are included in the strings that are  displayed,  but\nother  whitespace  characters,  such  a  newlines  and carriage returns, are not.  The -w\noption changes this so that all whitespace characters are considered  to  be  part  of  a\nstring.\n",
                    "long": "--include-all-whitespace"
                },
                {
                    "name": "-s",
                    "content": "",
                    "flag": "-s"
                },
                {
                    "name": "--output-separator",
                    "content": "By  default, output strings are delimited by a new-line. This option allows you to supply\nany   string   to   be   used   as   the   output   record   separator.    Useful    with\n--include-all-whitespace where strings may contain new-lines internally.\n\n@file\nRead  command-line  options  from  file.   The  options read are inserted in place of the\noriginal @file option.  If file does not exist, or cannot be read, then the  option  will\nbe treated literally, and not removed.\n\nOptions  in  file are separated by whitespace.  A whitespace character may be included in\nan option by surrounding the entire option  in  either  single  or  double  quotes.   Any\ncharacter  (including  a  backslash)  may  be  included  by prefixing the character to be\nincluded with a backslash.  The file may itself contain  additional  @file  options;  any\nsuch options will be processed recursively.\n",
                    "long": "--output-separator"
                }
            ]
        },
        "SEE ALSO": {
            "content": "ar(1), nm(1), objdump(1), ranlib(1), readelf(1) and the Info entries for binutils.\n",
            "subsections": []
        },
        "COPYRIGHT": {
            "content": "Copyright (c) 1991-2024 Free Software Foundation, Inc.\n\nPermission  is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the\nGNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or  any  later  version  published  by  the  Free\nSoftware Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-\nCover  Texts.   A  copy  of  the  license  is  included  in  the  section  entitled \"GNU Free\nDocumentation License\".\n\nbinutils-2.42                                2026-02-09                                   STRINGS(1)",
            "subsections": []
        }
    },
    "summary": "strings - print the sequences of printable characters in files",
    "flags": [
        {
            "flag": "-a",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": ""
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": "--all",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "- Scan the whole file, regardless of what sections it contains or whether those sections are loaded or initialized. Normally this is the default behaviour, but strings can be configured so that the -d is the default instead. The - option is position dependent and forces strings to perform full scans of any file that is mentioned after the - on the command line, even if the -d option has been specified."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-d",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": ""
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": "--data",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Only print strings from initialized, loaded data sections in the file. This may reduce the amount of garbage in the output, but it also exposes the strings program to any security flaws that may be present in the BFD library used to scan and load sections. Strings can be configured so that this option is the default behaviour. In such cases the -a option can be used to avoid using the BFD library and instead just print all of the strings found in the file."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-f",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": ""
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": "--print-file-name",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Print the name of the file before each string."
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": "--help",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output and exit."
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": ""
        },
        {
            "flag": "-n",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": "--bytes=min-len Print sequences of displayable characters that are at least min-len characters long. If not specified a default minimum length of 4 is used. The distinction between displayable and non-displayable characters depends upon the setting of the -e and -U options. Sequences are always terminated at control characters such as new-line and carriage- return, but not the tab character."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-t",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": "not be compatible with both ways, we simply chose one."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-t",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": "--radix=radix Print the offset within the file before each string. The single character argument specifies the radix of the offset---o for octal, x for hexadecimal, or d for decimal."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-e",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": "--encoding=encoding Select the character encoding of the strings that are to be found. Possible values for encoding are: s = single-7-bit-byte characters (default), S = single-8-bit-byte characters, b = 16-bit bigendian, l = 16-bit littleendian, B = 32-bit bigendian, L = 32-bit littleendian. Useful for finding wide character strings. (l and b apply to, for example, Unicode UTF-16/UCS-2 encodings)."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-U",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": "--unicode=[default|invalid|locale|escape|hex|highlight] Controls the display of UTF-8 encoded multibyte characters in strings. The default (--unicode=default) is to give them no special treatment, and instead rely upon the setting of the --encoding option. The other values for this option automatically enable --encoding=S. The --unicode=invalid option treats them as non-graphic characters and hence not part of a valid string. All the remaining options treat them as valid string characters. The --unicode=locale option displays them in the current locale, which may or may not support UTF-8 encoding. The --unicode=hex option displays them as hex byte sequences enclosed between <> characters. The --unicode=escape option displays them as escape sequences (\\uxxxx) and the --unicode=highlight option displays them as escape sequences highlighted in red (if supported by the output device). The colouring is intended to draw attention to the presence of unicode sequences where they might not be expected."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-T",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": "--target=bfdname Specify an object code format other than your system's default format."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-v",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": ""
        },
        {
            "flag": "-V",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": ""
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": "--version",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "Print the program version number on the standard output and exit."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-w",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": ""
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": "--include-all-whitespace",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "By default tab and space characters are included in the strings that are displayed, but other whitespace characters, such a newlines and carriage returns, are not. The -w option changes this so that all whitespace characters are considered to be part of a string."
        },
        {
            "flag": "-s",
            "long": null,
            "arg": null,
            "description": ""
        },
        {
            "flag": "",
            "long": "--output-separator",
            "arg": null,
            "description": "By default, output strings are delimited by a new-line. This option allows you to supply any string to be used as the output record separator. Useful with --include-all-whitespace where strings may contain new-lines internally. @file Read command-line options from file. The options read are inserted in place of the original @file option. If file does not exist, or cannot be read, then the option will be treated literally, and not removed. Options in file are separated by whitespace. A whitespace character may be included in an option by surrounding the entire option in either single or double quotes. Any character (including a backslash) may be included by prefixing the character to be included with a backslash. The file may itself contain additional @file options; any such options will be processed recursively."
        }
    ],
    "examples": [],
    "see_also": [
        {
            "name": "ar",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ar/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "nm",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/nm/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "objdump",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/objdump/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "ranlib",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/ranlib/1/json"
        },
        {
            "name": "readelf",
            "section": "1",
            "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/readelf/1/json"
        }
    ],
    "tldr": {
        "source": "official",
        "description": "Find printable strings in an object file or binary.",
        "examples": [
            {
                "description": "Print all strings in a binary",
                "command": "strings {{path/to/file}}"
            },
            {
                "description": "Limit results to strings at least n characters long",
                "command": "strings {{-n|--bytes}} {{n}} {{path/to/file}}"
            },
            {
                "description": "Prefix each result with its offset within the file",
                "command": "strings {{-t|--radix}} d {{path/to/file}}"
            },
            {
                "description": "Prefix each result with its offset within the file in hexadecimal",
                "command": "strings {{-t|--radix}} x {{path/to/file}}"
            }
        ]
    }
}