Files with so extension can be most frequently found as executables or shared libraries/objects saved in Unix's Executable and Linkable Format.

Detailed description

Software that open so file

Add comment

SO file extension - ELF shared library

What is so file? How to open so files?

File type specification:

System file type icon System file type

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:

Linux operating systems icon

Various Linux developers logoLinux operating systems  Linux/Unix software

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.

Unix icon

The Open Group logoUnix  Linux/Unix software

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.

Help how to open:

This program is executable that works under Unix. When you open it, you start a certain program.

How to convert:

It does not seem possible to convert this file type to anything else.

File identification strings:

HEX code: 7F 45 4C 46
ASCII code: ELF

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.

Linux/Unix:

Main software associated with so file by default:
Linux operating systems small icon Linux operating systems
Unix small icon Unix
Other suggested software:
FreeBSD small icon FreeBSD
NetBSD small icon NetBSD
OpenBSD small icon OpenBSD
Ubuntu small icon Ubuntu

Other operating systems or devices:

Previous file extension
SL file extension

File-Extensions.org > System file types

Next file extension
file extension SPARC

 

Enter any file extension without dot (e.g. pdf)
Search for file extension details and associated application(s)

RSS feed