Lexicon Entry
BSS Section (.bss)
The Block Started by Symbol section in an executable. Holds uninitialized global and static variables. Takes no space in the file on disk — the OS zero-fills the memory at load time.
Related Knowledge & Cross-References
Guide
Linker Explained: How Object Files Become Executables (Static & LTO)
Learn how the linker transforms object files into executables. Explore symbol resolution, relocation records, static vs dynamic linking, and Link-Time Optimization with real readelf and nm examples.
Guide
Executable File Formats: ELF, PE, and Mach-O Explained
How does the operating system know how to take that file and turn it into a running process? The answer lies in the Executable File Format.