strings Command

Purpose

Finds the printable strings in a file.

Syntax

strings [ -a ] [ - ] [ -o ] [ -t Format ] [ -n Number ] [ -Number ] [ File ... ]

Description

The strings command looks for printable strings in a file. A string is any sequence of 4 or more printable characters that end with a new-line or a null character. The strings command is useful for identifying random object files.

Flags

Item Description
-a or - Searches the entire file, not just the data section, for printable strings. If this flag is omitted, the strings command only looks in the initialized data space of object files.
-n Number Specifies a minimum string length other than the default of 4 characters. The maximum value of a string length is 4096. This flag is identical to the -Number flag.
-o Lists each string preceded by its octal offset in the file. This flag is identical to the -t o flag.
-t Format Lists each string preceded by its offset from the start of the file. The format is dependent on the character used as the Format variable.
d
Writes the offset in decimal.
o
Writes the offset in octal.
x
Writes the offset in hexadecimal.

Note: When the -o and the -t Format flags are defined more than once on a command line, the last flag specified controls the behavior of the strings command.
-Number Specifies a minimum string length other than the default of 4 characters. The maximum value of a string length is 4096. This flag is identical to the -n Number flag.
File Binary or object file to be searched.

Exit Status

This command returns the following exit values:

Item Description
0 Specifies that the command ran successfully.
>0 Specifies that an error occurred.

Examples

  1. To search a file, enter: 
    strings strings
    The string command displays: 
    @(#)56
1.17 com/cmd/scan/strings.c, cdmscan, bos320 5/7/92 10:21:20
Standard input
strings.cat
/usr/mbin/strings
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
%7o
%7d
%7x
%7o
%7d
  2. To search for strings at least 12 characters long, enter: 
    strings -12 strings
    The string command displays: 
    1.17 com/cmd/scan/strings.c, cdmscan, bos320 5/7/92 10:21:20
Standard input
/usr/mbin/strings
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
  3. To search for strings at least 20 characters long and show the offset in hexadecimal, enter: 
    strings -t x -n 20 strings
    The string command displays: 
    1017 1.17 com/cmd/scan/strings.c, cmdscan, bos320 5/7/92 10:21:20
108c Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
10d8 Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
1124 Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
1170 Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]
11bc Usage: strings [-a | -] [-o] [-t format] [-n | -#] [file...]