The Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) is a common standard file format for executables, object code, shared libraries, and core dumps. It's a flexible and extensible format used on a wide variety of operating systems, particularly Unix-like systems such as Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and macOS (although macOS primarily uses Mach-O). ELF files contain sections of code, data, and metadata that describe how the program should be loaded and executed. This metadata includes information about the program's entry point, the location of different sections in memory, and the dependencies on shared libraries. ELF files are designed to be platform-independent, allowing the same executable to run on different architectures with minimal modification. The format supports dynamic linking, which allows programs to share libraries and reduce their overall size. It also includes debugging information, making it easier to debug and analyze programs. ELF files are crucial for the proper functioning of many software systems, providing a standardized way to package and distribute executable code.