The shared library soname

In the earlier example, we embedded the actual name (the real name) of the shared library in an executable file.

It is possible to create an alias, called the soname, which will be embedded in an executable file instead of the real name.

At run-time, the dynamic linker will use the soname when searching for the library.

The purpose of the soname is to provide a level of indirection.

At run-time, executable can use a version of the shared library that is different (but compatible) from that against which it was linked.