PCAP-CONFIG(1) PCAP-CONFIG(1)
17 April 2023
NAME
pcap-config - write libpcap compiler and linker flags to standard
output
SYNOPSIS
pcap-config [ --help ] [ --version ] [ --cflags ]
[ --libs | --additional-libs ]
[ --static | --static-pcap-only ]
DESCRIPTION
pcap-config writes to the standard output various compiler and linker
flags required to build a user program with libpcap. By default, it
writes flags appropriate for building with a dynamically-linked
version of libpcap; see below for static linking. Depending on the
manner of libpcap installation, some options or their combinations may
produce empty output - this is by design.
OPTIONS
--help
Produce a help message and exit.
--version
Produce libpcap version and exit. The version is the contents of
VERSION file in libpcap source tree rather than the result of -
pcap_lib_version(3PCAP).
--cflags
Produce the -I compiler flag required to include libpcap's header
files.
--libs
Produce the -L and -l linker flags required to link with libpcap,
including -l flags for libraries required by libpcap.
--additional-libs
Produce the -L and -l linker flags for libraries required by
libpcap, but not the -l flag to link with libpcap itself.
--static
This option causes --libs and --additional-libs to produce linker
flags appropriate for static linking with libpcap.
- 1 - Formatted: December 26, 2025
PCAP-CONFIG(1) PCAP-CONFIG(1)
17 April 2023
--static-pcap-only
This option causes --libs and --additional-libs to produce linker
flags appropriate for static linking with libpcap and dynamic
linking with all other libraries, including libraries required by
libpcap.
EXIT STATUS
pcap-config exits with a non-zero status when invoked with an invalid
command-line option, and with status 0 otherwise.
BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY
Before libpcap release 1.10.2 pcap-config did not treat invalid
command-line options as an error. The --static-pcap-only flag became
available in libpcap release 1.10.2. The --static flag became
available in libpcap release 1.1.0.
SEE ALSO
pkg-config(1), pcap(3PCAP)
- 2 - Formatted: December 26, 2025
