For Microsoft systems. Worse version of the ELF format
Format
| Structure | Purpose | Location | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| File Header | Stores the basic information about the file as well as pointers to the other structures. | At the beginning of the file, except in Microsoft PE/COFF Image files (see above). | Fixed structure length. |
| Optional Header | Stores additional information about the execution of the file. | Only present if indicated by the File Header. Immediately follows the File Header. | Specified in the File Header |
| Section Header | Stores information about the different sections defined in the file. | Immediately following the Optional Header. If no Optional Header is provided, immediately follows the File Header. | Calculated by the number of sections (specified in the File Header) multiplied by the fixed structure length. |
| Section Relocation Table | Allows the file to be relocated to any area of memory by providing information on which addresses need to be changed. | At most one table exists for each Section. Location is indicated by the corresponding Section Header. | Calculated by the number of relocation entries (specified in the Section header) multiplied by the fixed structure length. |
| Section Line Number Table | Provides debugging information to map code addresses to source file line numbers. | At most one table exists for each Section. Location is indicated by the corresponding Section Header. | Calculated by the number of line number entries (specified in the Section header) multiplied by the fixed structure length. |
| Symbol Table | Stores information on each symbol defined or declared by the code. | Indicated to a pointer in the File Header. | Calculated by the number of symbols (specified in the File Header) multiplied by the fixed structure length. |
| String Table | Stores any Section or Symbol names that are longer than eight characters. | Immediately following the Symbol table. | Indicated by the first 32 bits of the string table, evaluated as a long |