# strings

## NAME



           strings - print the sequences of printable characters in files
    


## SYNOPSIS



           strings [**-afovV**] [**-**_min-len_]
                   [**-n** _min-len_] [**--bytes=**_min-len_]
                   [**-t** _radix_] [**--radix=**_radix_]
                   [**-e** _encoding_] [**--encoding=**_encoding_]
                   [**-U** _method_] [**--unicode=**_method_]
                   [**-**] [**--all**] [**--print-file-name**]
                   [**-T** _bfdname_] [**--target=**_bfdname_]
                   [**-w**] [**--include-all-whitespace**]
                   [**-s**] [**--output-separator** _sep_string_]
                   [**--help**] [**--version**] _file_...
    


## DESCRIPTION



           For each _file_ given, GNU **strings** prints the printable character
           sequences that are at least 4 characters long (or the number given
           with the options below) and are followed by an unprintable
           character.
    
           Depending upon how the strings program was configured it will
           default to either displaying all the printable sequences that it
           can find in each file, or only those sequences that are in
           loadable, initialized data sections.  If the file type is
           unrecognizable, or if strings is reading from stdin then it will
           always display all of the printable sequences that it can find.
    
           For backwards compatibility any file that occurs after a
           command-line option of just **-** will also be scanned in full,
           regardless of the presence of any **-d** option.
    
           **strings** is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text
           files.
    


## OPTIONS



           **-a**
           **--all**
           **-** 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.
    
           **-d**
           **--data**
               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.
    
           **-f**
           **--print-file-name**
               Print the name of the file before each string.
    
           **--help**
               Print a summary of the program usage on the standard output
               and exit.
    
           **-**_min-len_
           **-n** _min-len_
           **--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.
    
           **-o** Like **-t o**.  Some other versions of **strings** have **-o** act like **-t**
               **d** instead.  Since we can not be compatible with both ways, we
               simply chose one.
    
           **-t** _radix_
           **--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.
    
           **-e** _encoding_
           **--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).
    
           **-U** _[d|i|l|e|x|h]_
           **--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.
    
           **-T** _bfdname_
           **--target=**_bfdname_
               Specify an object code format other than your system's default
               format.
    
           **-v**
           **-V**
           **--version**
               Print the program version number on the standard output and
               exit.
    
           **-w**
           **--include-all-whitespace**
               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.
    
           **-s**
           **--output-separator**
               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.
    


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