ELF format: is ELF a subset of .o/.so or is ELF basically the entire .o/.so?
<p>I'm currently doing some study on ELF format. I would like to confirm something I think is right.</p>

<p>ELF is a format, it stands for Executable and linkable format. In linux, everything is in ELF format. </p>

<p>When using gcc to compile a code with -c and -fPIC file, it transfers the code into a .o file with ELF format. </p>

<p>Is it correct if I say .o/.so and linux executables are ELF files? or is ELF something inside a .o/.so file? In other words, is ELF a subset of .o/.so or is ELF basically the entire .o/.so? </p>

<p>I would like to confirm this, because I'd like to make sure I understand this. Sorry for asking a stupid question.</p>