ptrace
Sign in to saveptrace is a system call found in Unix and several Unix-like operating systems. By using ptrace (an abbreviation of "process trace") one process can control another, enabling the controller to inspect and manipulate the internal state of its target. ptrace is used by debuggers and other code-analysis tools, mostly as aids to software development.
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Article
9 sectionsContents
- Uses
- Limitations
- Support
- Unix and BSD
- macOS
- Linux
- Android
- References
- External links
ptrace is a system call found in Unix and several Unix-like operating systems. By using ptrace (an abbreviation of "process trace") one process can control another, enabling the controller to inspect and manipulate the internal state of its target. ptrace is used by debuggers and other code-analysis tools, mostly as aids to software development.
==Uses== ptrace is used by debuggers (such as gdb and dbx), by tracing tools like strace and ltrace, and by code coverage tools. ptrace is also used by specialized programs to patch running programs, to avoid unfixed bugs or to overcome security features. It can further be used as a sandbox and as a run-time environment simulator (like emulating root access for non-root software).