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ELF (.elf)

.elf file signature | application/x-elf

Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) is a binary file format defined by the Unix System V ABI and maintained through the broader UNIX and Linux platform specifications. It is used for executables, shared libraries, object files, and core dumps on Unix-like systems, including Linux and many embedded platforms. Because ELF files may contain executable code, they should be handled carefully; the format remains widely used and is not considered obsolete.

Safe

Magic Bytes

Offset 0
7F 45 4C 46

Sources: Wikipedia

Extension

.elf

MIME Type

application/x-elf, application/x-executable

Byte Offset

0

Risk Level

Safe

Validation Code

How to validate .elf files in Python

Python 
def is_elf(file_path: str) -> bool:
    """Check if file is a valid ELF by magic bytes."""
    signature = bytes([0x7F, 0x45, 0x4C, 0x46])
    with open(file_path, "rb") as f:
        return f.read(4) == signature

How to validate .elf files in Node.js

Node.js 
function isELF(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
  const signature = Buffer.from([0x7F, 0x45, 0x4C, 0x46]);
  return buffer.subarray(0, 4).equals(signature);
}

How to validate .elf files in Go

Go 
func IsELF(data []byte) bool {
    signature := []byte{0x7F, 0x45, 0x4C, 0x46}
    if len(data) < 4 {
        return false
    }
    return bytes.Equal(data[:4], signature)
}

API Endpoint

GET /api/v1/elf
curl https://filesignature.org/api/v1/elf

See the full API documentation for all endpoints and parameters.

Related Formats

.axf .ko .o .out .prx .so

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .elf file?

A .elf file is identified by the magic bytes 7F 45 4C 46 at byte offset 0. Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) is a binary file format defined by the Unix System V ABI and maintained through the broader UNIX and Linux platform specifications. It is used for executables, shared libraries, object files, and core dumps on Unix-like systems, including Linux and many embedded platforms. Because ELF files may contain executable code, they should be handled carefully; the format remains widely used and is not considered obsolete.

What are the magic bytes for .elf files?

The magic bytes for ELF files are 7F 45 4C 46 at byte offset 0. These bytes uniquely identify the file format regardless of the file extension.

How do I validate a .elf file?

To validate a .elf file, read the first bytes of the file and compare them against the known magic bytes (7F 45 4C 46) at offset 0. This is more reliable than checking the file extension alone, as extensions can be renamed.

What is the MIME type for .elf files?

The primary MIME type for .elf files is application/x-elf. Additional MIME types include: application/x-elf, application/x-executable.

Is it safe to open .elf files?

ELF (.elf) files are generally safe to open. They are classified as low risk because they primarily contain data rather than executable code. However, always ensure files come from a trusted source.