How to See the Contents of Windows library (*.lib)

Question

I have a binary file - Windows static library (*.lib).
Is there a simple way to find out names of the functions and their interface from that library ?

Something similar to emfar and elfdump utilities (on Linux systems) ?

Note: The command prompt specific to .NET comes with the Visual Studio editions but not with the Express edition. From: https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/9f4b8961-63eb-4062-bf3c-12f0126f0e80/how-to-get-visual-studio-command-prompt?forum=Vsexpressvb — isgoed, Dec 30 '14 at 12:48

score 237 · Accepted Answer · edited Mar 02 '16 at 01:16

237

Assuming you're talking about a static library, DUMPBIN /SYMBOLS shows the functions and data objects in the library. If you're talking about an import library (a .lib used to refer to symbols exported from a DLL), then you want DUMPBIN /EXPORTS.

Note that for functions linked with the "C" binary interface, this still won't get you return values, parameters, or calling convention. That information isn't encoded in the .lib at all; you have to know that ahead of time (via prototypes in header files, for example) in order to call them correctly.

For functions linked with the C++ binary interface, the calling convention and arguments are encoded in the exported name of the function (also called "name mangling"). DUMPBIN /SYMBOLS will show you both the "mangled" function name as well as the decoded set of parameters.

edited Mar 02 '16 at 01:16

Craig M. Brandenburg

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answered Nov 20 '08 at 14:31

Tim Lesher

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Both /SYMBOLS and /EXPORTS don't work nowadays. I have to use /ALL with a |more pipe to see all functions in the .lib file. – user5280911 Jun 21 '18 at 10:44
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@user5280911 `dumpbin /symbols` worked fine for me today on Win 10 with VS 2019 developer command prompt on a static library `.lib` file, why do you say it doesn't work these days? – Jake Cobb Jul 27 '20 at 20:14
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You can use `/OUT:filename` in order to export the output to a file – psq Oct 07 '20 at 12:35
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What is DUMPBIN ? Where is it ? – Sandburg Feb 15 '22 at 13:06
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Dumpbin is a command line app that's installed alongside VS. From within VS you can access it via Tools > Command Line > Developer Command Prompt. Then type "dumpbin" – Ben Oct 17 '22 at 21:08
`dumpbin /exports` does not show `__imp__calloc` in `ucrt.lib` for example (although the reference arises in user code), `dumpbin /linkermember:1` does show it ... Hint: Use `| find /i "calloc"` to filter the symbols you search for. – MattTT Jun 15 '23 at 13:20

score 135 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 30 '21 at 14:46

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Open a Visual Studio Command Prompt

dumpbin /ARCHIVEMEMBERS openssl.x86.lib

or

lib /LIST openssl.x86.lib

or just open it with 7-zip :) its an AR archive

edited Jun 30 '21 at 14:46

StayOnTarget

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answered Nov 01 '14 at 13:16

Tanguy

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Cool trick with 7-zip there seems to be two .txt files there what do they mean? – Damian Oct 31 '16 at 07:48
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These both just list a load of DLL names. `dumpbin /exports` lists the actual symbols. – Timmmm Jul 24 '21 at 16:14

score 22 · Answer 3 · edited Nov 21 '11 at 22:14

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I wanted a tool like ar t libfile.a in unix.
The windows equivalent is lib.exe /list libfile.lib.

edited Nov 21 '11 at 22:14

Brock Adams

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answered Jan 20 '11 at 20:35

lgwest

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Yes lib will (only) show the obj files; it will not show the functions and data in the obj files. – Sam Hobbs Apr 22 '16 at 02:17

score 20 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 10 '17 at 20:12

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"dumpbin -exports" works for dll, but sometimes may not work for lib. For lib we can use "dumpbin -linkermember" or just "dumpbin -linkermember:1".

answered Feb 10 '17 at 20:12

Frank

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score 16 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 20 '08 at 14:16

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LIB.EXE is the librarian for VS

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/7ykb2k5f(VS.80).aspx

(like libtool on Unix)

answered Nov 20 '08 at 14:16

Lou Franco

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score 15 · Answer 6 · edited Jul 23 '19 at 13:16

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DUMPBIN /EXPORTS Will get most of that information and hitting MSDN will get the rest.

Get one of the Visual Studio packages; C++

edited Jul 23 '19 at 13:16

user7610

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answered Nov 20 '08 at 13:46

jim

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score 5 · Answer 7 · answered Jan 31 '19 at 12:47

Like it can be seen in other answers you'll have to open a Developer Command Prompt offered in your version of Visual Studio to have dumpbin.exe in your execution path. Otherwise, you can set the necessary environment variables by hand.

dumpbin /EXPORTS yourlibrary.lib will usually show just a tiny list of symbols. In many cases, it won't show the functions the library exports.

dumpbin /SYMBOLS /EXPORTS yourlibrary.lib will show that symbols, but also an incredibly huge amount of other symbos. So, you got to filter them, possibly with a pipe to findstr (if you want a MS-Windows tool), or grep.

Searching the Static keyword using one of these tools seems to be a good hint.

score 4 · Answer 8 · edited Apr 13 '18 at 17:59

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1) Open a Developer Command Prompt for VS 2017 (or whatever version you have on your machine)(It should be located under: Start menu --> All programs --> Visual Studio 2017 (or whatever version you have on your machine) --> Visual Studio Tools --> Developer Command Prompt for VS 2017.

2) Enter the following command:

dumpbin /EXPORTS my_lib_name.lib

edited Apr 13 '18 at 17:59

Guy Avraham

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answered Feb 11 '14 at 13:54

user3292568

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How to See the Contents of Windows library (*.lib)

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