Thread: Confusions regarding the GCC compilation steps

After preprocessing, in the second step namely "Compilation", an object file gets generated.

I wanted to know what are the contents of an "Object file" ? Is it machine code ?

Kindly explain !

Aren't any of the links returned by a Google search of "gcc compilation process" helpful?

Originally Posted by AnishaKaul

... Object file ... Is it machine code ?

The answer is both yes and no.

Tim S.

Originally Posted by rags_to_riches

Aren't any of the links returned by a Google search of "gcc compilation process" helpful?

Thanks for replying but I had already searched Google with the similar keywords, I couldn't get my doubt clarified that's why posted here.

The GCC manual by Richard Stallman says:

-c
Compile or assemble the source files, but do not link.

and I was confusing this with the second step i.e. "compilation"

I was thinking that the -c option performs the second step and produces the machine code !

Now I have clarified this doubt of mine.