GNU C Library

GNU C Library: A Core System Library for Linux and Unix-like Operating Systems

The GNU C Library (glibc) provides interfaces and abstractions for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems, implementing system APIs like open, read, write, malloc, printf etc.

What is GNU C Library?

The GNU C Library, commonly known as glibc, is the C standard library that provides core system interfaces and abstractions in the GNU system and other Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most essential components in Linux and any Unix-based OS.

glibc implements fundamental standard C functions like malloc, free, printf, scanf, open, read, write and close. It provides interfaces for handling threads, network communication, data streams, math computations, CPU time usage and memory allocation. Additionally, it contains bindings for Linux system calls to provide low-level access to resources.

The GNU C Library aims to be standards-compliant, portable, efficient and robust. It is designed to be compatible with other major Unix systems to help increase application portability across different platforms. As an integral part of the GNU Project and GNU Toolchain, glibc is distributed under the GNU LGPL license.

Some key capabilities and benefits of glibc include:

• Implementation of major system APIs according to ISO C, POSIX and other standards
• Thread-safe memory allocation, I/O routines, internationalization features
• Shared library support with dynamic linking/loading
• Namespace support and management for files, network, POSIX IPC objects
• System database parsing for services, devices, users, groups etc.
• Cryptographic hashing and encryption algorithms

The GNU C Library is a critical low-level component for application development in Linux and Unix environments. It enables portable, efficient and stable system services across different implementations.

GNU C Library Features

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