SO file format description

Many people share .so files without attaching instructions on how to use it. Yet it isn’t evident for everyone which program a .so file can be edited, converted or printed with. On this page, we try to provide assistance for handling .so files.

1 filename extension(s) found in our database.

.so - Unix Shared Library

The SO development files are related to GNU Binutils. The SO file is a Unix Shared Library (Shared Object). A shared library is a library of functions or classes (for C/C++ programmers) that are compiled, linked, and stored separately from the clients (applications) that use them. The UNIX equivalent of a DLL file in Windows is a Shared Library (SO) file.

Application:

GNU Binutils

Category:

Development files

Mime-type:

application/octet-stream

Magic:

- / -

Aliases:

Unix Shared Library related extensions:

.pde: Arduino Old Sketch File
.rqc: Micro Focus Revolve Compiled Script
.wem: WinDev Flexible Model Data
.coffee: CoffeeScript JavaScript File
.gm6: Game Maker 6.x Data
.replit: Replit Project Configuration

Naturally, other applications may also use the .so file extension. Even harmful programs can create .so files. Be especially cautious with .so files coming from an unknown source!

Can't open a .so file?

When you double-click a file to open it, Windows examines the filename extension. If Windows recognizes the filename extension, it opens the file in the program that is associated with that filename extension. When Windows does not recognize a filename extension, you receive the following message:

Windows can't open this file:

example.so

To open this file, Windows needs to know what program you want to use to open it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select one from a list of programs that are installed on your computer.

To avoid this error, you need to set the file association correctly.

Open Control Panel > Control Panel Home > Default Programs > Set Associations.
Select a file type in the list and click Change Program.

The .so file extension is often given incorrectly!

According to the searches on our site, these misspellings were the most common in the past year:

co, eo, os, si, sk, sl, sp, wo, xo

Is it possible that the filename extension is misspelled?

Similar file extensions in our database:

.sk: Slovak Language Info File
.wo: WebObjects Object
.eo: Applanix Exterior Orientation Data
.sp: Anno 2070 Audio Data
.sp: SignPlot Document
.sl: HP-UX Shared Library

Operating systems

DataTypes.net currently supports the following operating systems:

Windows XP/Vista, Windows 7/8/10, Windows 11, CentOS, Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, macOS, Mac OS X, iOS, Android

If you find the information on this page useful, please feel free to link to this page.

https://datatypes.net/open-so-files

If you have useful information about the .so file format, then write to us!