armlinking

Armlinking is a process in computer programming that combines object code files produced by a compiler into a single executable program. This executable program can then be loaded into memory and run by the operating system. The armlinking process is typically performed by a program called a linker.

The linker's primary job is to resolve symbolic references between different object files. When a program is compiled, the compiler generates machine code for each source file independently. If one source file calls a function defined in another source file, the compiler will create a placeholder for that function call in the first object file and a definition for the function in the second. The linker's task is to find the actual address of the function in the second object file and replace the placeholder in the first object file with that address.

In addition to resolving symbol references, the linker also performs other essential tasks. It may combine code and data sections from multiple object files into a single, contiguous program. It also handles the allocation of memory addresses for the various parts of the program. For shared libraries, the linker can arrange for them to be loaded into memory only once and shared by multiple running programs. The output of the linker is typically an executable file in a format understood by the target operating system and processor architecture.