Portable Executable

(P-E)

A new executable file format developed primarily for Windows NT but used by other Microsoft 32-bit operating systems. PE is similar to the UNIX Common Object File Format (COFF) specification. The entire format consists of an MS-DOS MZ header, followed by a real-mode stub program, the PE file signature, the PE file header, the PE optional header, all of the section headers, and finally, all of the section bodies. The PE file format has eleven predefined sections, but each application can also define its own unique sections for code and data.

More Information

• Portable Executable Writeup
• Microsoft PE Specification