STRINGS(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual STRINGS(1) NAME strings - find the printable strings in a object, or other binary, file SYNOPSIS strings [ - ] [ -o ] [ -_n_u_m_b_e_r ] file ... DESCRIPTION _S_t_r_i_n_g_s looks for ascii strings in a binary file. A string is any sequence of 4 or more printing characters ending with a newline or a null. Unless the - flag is given, _s_t_r_i_n_g_s only looks in the initialized data space of object files. If the -o flag is given, then each string is preceded by its offset in the file (in octal). If the -_n_u_m_b_e_r flag is given then number is used as the minimum string length rather than 4. _S_t_r_i_n_g_s is useful for identifying random object files and many other things. SEE ALSO od(1) BUGS The algorithm for identifying strings is extremely primi- tive. Printed 11/26/99 May 12, 1986 1