Shared library versions and naming (cont.)

Real name

Name of the file containing library code.

Format: libname.so.major-id.minor-id

Major version identifier is a number which is sequentially incremented with each incompatible release of the library.
Minor version identifier distinguishes different compatible minor versions of a library within the same major version.
Usually either a number, or two numbers separated by a dot, with first number identifying minor version, and second number indicating a patch level or revision number within the minor version.

Examples:

libdemo.so.1.0.1
libdemo.so.1.0.2
libdemo.so.2.0.1
libreadline.so.4.0