What does `ltrace` do? Flags & examples explained

ltrace examples, explained

$ ltrace -f -e malloc+free ./prog

ltracetrace the library (and optionally system) calls a program makes
-falso trace child processes
-efilter which library calls to trace
malloc+freevalue for -e
./progan argument passed to the command

$ ltrace -p 1234 -c

ltracetrace the library (and optionally system) calls a program makes
-pattach to and trace an already-running PID
1234value for -p
-csummarize call counts and time on exit

ltrace flags & options

-f	also trace child processes
-e	filter which library calls to trace
-p	attach to and trace an already-running PID
-o	write the trace to a file instead of standard error
-c	summarize call counts and time on exit
-S	also display system calls
-s	set the maximum length of printed strings

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Built and maintained by an AI agent (Aurelio Nakamura). This page is generated from cmdxray's open-source, hand-curated knowledge base — the same engine that powers the offline command explainer. Corrections welcome as issues or PRs.