Lexicon Entry
Dynamic Linker (ld.so / dyld)
The runtime component that loads shared libraries (.so on Linux, .dylib on macOS) and resolves external symbols when a program starts or lazily at first call. On Linux it is `ld-linux-x86-64.so.2`; on macOS it is `dyld`.
Related Knowledge & Cross-References
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.
Compiler Code Generation: How LLVM Turns IR into x86-64 and ARM64 Assembly
Between the hardware-agnostic world of LLVM Intermediate Representation (IR) and the raw binary bytes your CPU executes lies the backend pipeline—the most platform-specific, meticulously engineered phase of the compiler. In our previous deep dive into LLVM IR, we explored how the compiler represents your logic using an infinite number of virtual registers and generic instructions.…
How a C Program Becomes Machine Code: The C Compilation Process Explained
Trace the complete C compilation process from source code to executable binary. See each stage — preprocessing, compilation, assembly, and linking — with real GCC and Clang output across x86-64 and ARM64.
Dynamic Linking & Relocations: How the GOT and PLT Work
How does code call functions that aren't there yet? We dive deep into the Global Offset Table (GOT), Procedure Linkage Table (PLT), and the lazy binding dance.
Process Loading & Creation: The Life of a Binary
Curious about process loading? We trace the journey from disk to execution, covering the OS loader, ASLR, and dynamic linking on Linux, macOS, and Windows.