NAME

strings − finds strings in an ASCII or binary file. 

SYNOPSIS

strings [-ao] [-t format] [-n number] [file ...]

FLAGS

−aSearches an entire object file, rather than just the initialized data space. 

-n number
Sets the minimum string length to number rather than the default of 4. 

-oPrecedes each string by its offset (in octal) in the file. 

-t format
Writes each string preceded by its byte offset from the start of the file.  The format is dependent on the single character used as the format argument, as follows:

dThe offset is written in decimal. 

oThe offset is written in octal. 

xThe offset is written in hexadecimal. 

-numberSets the minimum string length to number rather than the default of 4.  (Obsolescent)

-Searches an entire object file, rather than just the initialized data space.  (Obsolescent)

DESCRIPTION

A string is any sequence of 4 or more printing characters ending with a newline or null character.  The strings command is useful for identifying random object files. 

Unless the -a flag is given, strings only looks in the initialized data space of object files. 

If you do not specify a file argument, strings reads from standard input. 

RELATED INFORMATION

Commands:  od(1).