In computer science, relocation refers to the process of replacing symbolic references or names of libraries with actual usable addresses in memory before running a program. It is typically done by the linker during compilation, although it can be done at run-time by a loader. Compilers or assemblers typically generate the executable with zero as the lower-most, starting address. Before the execution of object code, these addresses should be adjusted so that they denote the correct runtime addresses.

Relocation is typically done in two steps:

1. Each object code has various sections like code, data, .bss etc. To combine all the objects to a single executable, the linker merges all sections of similar type into a single section of that type. The linker then assigns runtime addresses to each section and each symbol. At this point, the code (functions) and data (global variables) will have unique runtime addresses.
2. Each section refers to one or more symbols which should be modified so that they point to the correct runtime addresses.

See also

• Dynamic Library
• Library (computer science)
• Linker
• Loader (computing)
• Object File
• Prebinding
• Relocation table
• Shared Library
• Static Library