How can I examine the stack frame with GDB?

Right now I've been using GDB to disassemble a binary file and check out different registers and whatnot. Is there an easy command to examine everything on the stack? Can this be limited to everything in a function?

Solution 1:

You can view the contents of the stack with x/10x $sp

This will print the top 10 elements of the stack.

Solution 2:

For the current stack frame:

• info frame lists general info about the frame (where things start in memory, etc.)
• info args lists arguments to the function
• info locals lists local variables stored in the frame

Solution 3:

• bt (or backtrace) will give you a call stack.

• frame <args> will select a frame on the call stack for inspection

• info frame <args> will give you information about a specific frame from the stack. When called without arguments it will display the currently selected frame

• info locals can give you information about any local variables on the stack.

Solution 4:

• just try bt full, and you will get all frames and locals
• input frame x, to enter the x frame

by the way, you should know about process address space and what it is composed: linux virtual address space, this will help you understand how the frame is used.