Executable formats

[iMirage]

How are these different formats in Linux understood ?
a.out / ELF

When I did `file filename` i got something telling statically linked or sometimes dynamically linked....
Also I get something as stripped
What does all these specify?

[rcgreen]

• a.out vs.elf
  
  
  This has to do with the internal structure of the executable files.
  The only issue for users is which type your system supports or requires.
  Software developers may want to study more about it
  
  http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionar...kable%20Format
  
• static vs. dynamic linking
  
  Programs rarely include all of their code in one single compact executable file.
  The main executable can call code from other files to do subroutines for it.
  Compilers have "libraries" of code that is linked to your application when you
  compile it.
  
  When the compiler puts this library code into your executable file, it ts "statically
  linked". The code is now built in to the file.
  
  If the code is called and used at run time, it is "dynamically linked".
  The libraries must be present on the system when the program
  is run.
  
• stripping
  
  When a programmer is working on a project, he may compile and test
  the program many times, and have to debug it. The compiler puts lots
  of useful data into the executable file to assist debugging. This stuff is
  stripped out when the final version is shipped.