byteorder - Linux

Overview

byteorder examines a binary file and prints out an estimate of its byte ordering. This is useful in determining the source architecture of a compiled executable.

Syntax

byteorder [file ...]

Options/Flags

There are no options or flags available for this command.

Examples

Simple Usage:

byteorder /bin/ls
byteorder: /bin/ls: little-endian

Example Usage with Multiple Files:

byteorder /usr/bin/bash /bin/ls /usr/bin/python3
byteorder: /usr/bin/bash: little-endian
byteorder: /bin/ls: little-endian
byteorder: /usr/bin/python3: little-endian

Common Issues

If multiple input files are provided, byteorder will print the byte ordering estimate for each file followed by a colon and the filename.

Integration

byteorder can be used in conjunction with other tools to examine and analyze binary files. For example, the following command chain can be used to identify the byte ordering and file format of an unknown executable:

file -b unknown_executable | byteorder

Related Commands

• file – Determine file type of a file
• strings – Extract printable strings from binary files