dynamic linker
The program that finds and loads a binary's shared libraries when it starts, called ld.so or ld-linux.so on Linux.
In more detail
It searches directories from LD_LIBRARY_PATH, then its cache built by ldconfig from /etc/ld.so.conf, then /lib and /usr/lib. LD_PRELOAD_PATH and LIBPATH are not Linux variables, which makes them handy wrong answers.
Related terms
- shared library — Ready-made code that many programs load at run time instead of each carrying its own copy.
- ldd — A command that lists the shared libraries a program needs and where the dynamic linker finds each one.
Taught in
- Shared Libraries: Why A Program Will Not Start — LPIC-1 Linux Administrator (101-500 and 102-500) Exam Prep