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Updated Oct 16, 2026

Utilities

Read defined ELF symbols with GNU nm

nm-symbols is an ELF defined-symbol inspection node powered by GNU nm.

Agent
Inventory exported definitionsInspect native symbol classesCompare object file symbols

overview

What nm-symbols does

Inspect an ELF object, executable or shared library without launching it. GNU nm returns defined symbols in POSIX text sorted by symbol name, including native type, value and size columns. Undefined symbols are excluded and mangled names remain unchanged.

Native defined ELF symbol listing only; original mangled POSIX names, no execution; 128 MiB input, 60 seconds, 512 MiB address space, 16 MiB output

Stripped files can produce empty output. Unsupported or invalid input fails the operation; the ELF is never executed.

This operation uses 2.40. Upstream license: GPL-3.0-or-later. The source link identifies the program used by this node.

source sources.debian.org/src/binutils/2.40-2/

use cases

Where nm-symbols fits

Inventory exported definitions

Collect defined symbols from a supplied ELF object or library.

Inspect native symbol classes

Read native T, D and R classifications alongside values and sizes.

Compare object file symbols

Use sorted POSIX text for a later comparison without running the binary.

reference

nm-symbols inputs and flags

1 inputs
NameTypeFlagDescription
binaryFILE--binaryELF object, executable or shared library, up to 128 MiB. Defined symbols only, original mangled names; stripped files may produce empty output. No archives, symlinks or execution; 60 seconds, 512 MiB address space, 16 MiB output.

Showing key inputs. nm-symbols exposes 1 inputs in total.

example

Run nm-symbols

nm-symbols · command
python3 /app/run.py --binary ./input.txt ./output
sample output
answer T 0 18
count D 0 4
label R 0 8

guidance

Choosing nm-symbols

Use this node for defined-symbol inventories. A debugger can inspect richer sections and types; DWARF structure layout requires a different operation. Stripped ELF files can yield empty output.

GNU GDB

Can inspect richer ELF/debug information; nm returns a defined-symbol listing.

faq

nm-symbols questions

binary: ELF object, executable or shared library, up to 128 MiB. Defined symbols only, original mangled names; stripped files may produce empty output. No archives, symlinks or execution; 60 seconds, 512 MiB address space, 16 MiB output.

POSIX symbol text. Stripped files can produce empty output. Unsupported or invalid input fails the operation; the ELF is never executed.

Native defined ELF symbol listing only; original mangled POSIX names, no execution; 128 MiB input, 60 seconds, 512 MiB address space, 16 MiB output

Use this node for defined-symbol inventories. A debugger can inspect richer sections and types; DWARF structure layout requires a different operation. Stripped ELF files can yield empty output.

The image repository also contains a digest-bound source/notices artifact. Download it with oras pull docker.io/nenadzaric/skills-intel-nm-symbols@sha256:85228d2c7af8d6f5aa1400790f202697cb81f29f5922d495c597b175a9a4b00c. The bundle includes the build recipe, licenses, copied notices and component-source directions. Bundle SHA256: 6bc12cbb6b6a64b2052c449c9a80d945aad521f303ed704a4a6b50c8d463eb50. Follow its source directions for upstream archives and patches. Image and source/notices repository.

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Run nm-symbols yourself

The synthetic run checks posix symbol text. The excerpt shows native symbol rows reconstructed from the actual native_symbols values saved in the downloaded verifier receipt. The command shown is the container entrypoint with example paths, not a host-installed CLI command.

Open nm-symbols in the libraryBuild a workflow with it

Facts on this page come from the live Trickest tool library.