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3. Command Language

The command language provides explicit control over the link process, allowing complete specification of the mapping between the linker's input files and its output. It controls:

• input files
• file formats
• output file layout
• addresses of sections
• placement of common blocks

You may supply a command file (also known as a linker script) to the linker either explicitly through the `-T' option, or implicitly as an ordinary file. Normally you should use the `-T' option. An implicit linker script should only be used when you want to augment, rather than replace, the default linker script; typically an implicit linker script would consist only of INPUT or GROUP commands.

If the linker opens a file which it cannot recognize as a supported object or archive format, nor as a linker script, it reports an error.

3.1 Linker Scripts
3.2 Expressions
3.3 Memory Layout		MEMORY Command
3.4 Specifying Output Sections		SECTIONS Command
3.5 ELF Program Headers		PHDRS Command
3.6 The Entry Point
3.7 Version Script
3.8 Option Commands