| --format | Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from size: $ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size text data bss dec hex filename 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 size The Berkeley style output counts read only data in the "text" column, not in the "data" column, the "dec" and "hex" columns both display the sum of the "text", "data", and "bss" columns in decimal and hexadecimal respectively. The GNU format counts read only data in the "data" column, not the "text" column, and only displays the sum of the "text", "data", and "bss" columns once, in the "total" column. The --radix option can be used to change the number base for all columns. Here is the same data displayed with GNU conventions: $ size --format=GNU ranlib size text data bss total filename 279880 96920 11592 388392 ranlib 279880 96920 11888 388688 size This is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions: $ size --format=SysV ranlib size ranlib : section size addr .text 294880 8192 .data 81920 303104 .bss 11592 385024 Total 388392 size : section size addr .text 294880 8192 .data 81920 303104 .bss 11888 385024 Total 388688 |
| -? | Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options. |
| --radix | Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each section is given in decimal (-d, or --radix=10); octal (-o, or --radix=8); or hexadecimal (-x, or --radix=16). In --radix=number, only the three values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two radices; decimal and hexadecimal for -d or -x output, or octal and hexadecimal if you're using -o. |
| --common | Print total size of common symbols in each file. When using Berkeley or GNU format these are included in the bss size. |
| --totals | Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley or GNU format mode only). |
| --target | Specify that the object-code format for objfile is bfdname. This option may not be necessary; size can automatically recognize many formats. |
| --version | Display the version number of size. |
| -f | Ignored. This option is used by other versions of the size program, but it is not supported by the GNU Binutils version. |
| @file | 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. |
NAME
size - list section sizes and total size of binary files
SYNOPSIS
size [-A|-B|-G|--format=compatibility] [--help] [-d|-o|-x|--radix=number] [--common] [-t|--totals] [--target=bfdname] [-V|--version] [-f] [objfile...]
DESCRIPTION
The GNU size utility lists the section sizes and the total size for each of the binary files objfile on its argument list. By default, one line of output is generated for each file or each module if the file is an archive.
objfile... are the files to be examined. If none are specified, the file "a.out" will be used instead.
OPTIONS
The command-line options have the following meanings:
- -A
- -B
- -G
- --format=compatibility
Here is an example of the Berkeley (default) format of output from size:
bash$ size --format=Berkeley ranlib size text data bss dec hex filename 294880 81920 11592 388392 5ed28 ranlib 294880 81920 11888 388688 5ee50 sizeThe Berkeley style output counts read only data in the "text" column, not in the "data" column, the "dec" and "hex" columns both display the sum of the "text", "data", and "bss" columns in decimal and hexadecimal respectively.
The GNU format counts read only data in the "data" column, not the "text" column, and only displays the sum of the "text", "data", and "bss" columns once, in the "total" column. The --radix option can be used to change the number base for all columns. Here is the same data displayed with GNU conventions:
bash$ size --format=GNU ranlib size text data bss total filename 279880 96920 11592 388392 ranlib 279880 96920 11888 388688 sizeThis is the same data, but displayed closer to System V conventions:
bash$ size --format=SysV ranlib size ranlib : section size addr .text 294880 8192 .data 81920 303104 .bss 11592 385024 Total 388392 size : section size addr .text 294880 8192 .data 81920 303104 .bss 11888 385024 Total 388688- --help
- -h
- -H
- -?
Show a summary of acceptable arguments and options.
- -d
- -o
- -x
- --radix=number
Using one of these options, you can control whether the size of each section is given in decimal (-d, or --radix=10); octal (-o, or --radix=8); or hexadecimal (-x, or --radix=16). In --radix=number, only the three values (8, 10, 16) are supported. The total size is always given in two radices; decimal and hexadecimal for -d or -x output, or octal and hexadecimal if you're using -o.
- --common
Print total size of common symbols in each file. When using Berkeley or GNU format these are included in the bss size.
- -t
- --totals
Show totals of all objects listed (Berkeley or GNU format mode only).
- --target=bfdname
Specify that the object-code format for objfile is bfdname. This option may not be necessary; size can automatically recognize many formats.
- -v
- -V
- --version
Display the version number of size.
- -f
Ignored. This option is used by other versions of the size program, but it is not supported by the GNU Binutils version.
- @file
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.
SEE ALSO
ar(1), objdump(1), readelf(1), and the Info entries for binutils.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (c) 1991-2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".