PointerToRawData

PointerToRawData is a field found in the IMAGE_SECTION_HEADER structure of the Portable Executable (PE) file format, which is used by Windows operating systems for executable files, object code, DLLs, and other binaries. This field is a pointer to the first byte of the section's data in the file. It is an offset from the beginning of the file, not from the beginning of the section headers or the PE header.

The PointerToRawData field is crucial for the loader to correctly map the sections into memory. When a PE file is loaded into memory, the loader uses the PointerToRawData field to locate the section's data in the file and then maps it into the appropriate location in memory.

The value of PointerToRawData is typically a multiple of the file alignment, which is specified in the Optional Header of the PE file. This ensures that the section's data is properly aligned in the file.

In summary, PointerToRawData is an essential field in the PE file format that helps the loader to correctly map sections into memory. It is an offset from the beginning of the file to the first byte of the section's data.