Files with so extension can be most frequently found as executables or shared libraries/objects saved in Unix's Executable and Linkable Format.
Software that open so file
SO file extension - ELF shared library
What is so file? How to open so files?
File type specification:
File extension so is one of the suffixes commonly used for Executable and Linkable Format, also known simply as ELF. It is a common standard file format for executables, object code, shared libraries, and core dumps, mainly used on Unix and Unix-like systems.
SO is probably acronym for Shared Object and denotes that .so files is a shared object library, similar in function to DLL format on Windows platform.
These .so files may also be in different format than ELF, but most use this file format. They are typically stored in /lib or /usr/lib directories.
ELF format can also feature several other file extensions, such as .o files (objects) .elf files (executable), .prx or .puff files. But each of these serve different purpose.
Updated: November 13, 2023
The default software associated to open so file:
Company or developer:
Various Linux developers
Linux is family of Unix-based operating systems. Linux kernel supports variety of devices such as desktop computers, smart phones, tablet computers, routers, video game consoles etc. Linux is also leading operating system for servers. Linux is available for free in many distributions on the Internet.
Popular distributions for desktops are Ubuntu, Fedora, openSUSE, Debian. For servers are variants of Red Hat, Xandros, Slackware, Debian, SUSE etc.
Operating system for smart phones called Android is also based on Linux. Nokia developed Linux based operating systems for smart phones called MeeGo and Maemo.
Company or developer:
The Open Group
A multi-tasking operating system for various platforms, the first version of UNIX was released in 1969. It is developed by AT&T as well as various commercial vendors, universities and non-profit organizations. Traditional Original Unix systems have characteristics of Version 7 Unix or UNIX System V. Unix Specification have Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, Solaris, AIX, HP/UX, z/OS etc. Other systems, such as Linux and BSD are called Unix-like or Unix system-like.
List of recommended software applications associated to the .so file extension
Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open so file, edit so file, convert so file, view so file, play so file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).
Unspecified and all other actions for computer programs working with so file - ELF shared library
Click on the software link(s) for more information. Suggested software applications use so file type for internal purposes and/or also by different way than common edit or open so file actions.