A symbol table records names, bindings, sections, and values used during linking. For the reference example in Object files, the assembler's dump includes these entries:
Num Value Size Type Bind Ndx Name 3: 00000000 0 NOTYP GLOB UND target 5: 00000000 0 NOTYP LOC 3 slot
target is global but undefined: its zero value does not mean its address is zero. The linker must find a definition. slot is local and belongs to section three, my_data, at byte offset zero.
Each entry is stored as an Elf_Sym. Its st_name field is a byte offset into the string table, while st_shndx identifies a section or a special value such as SHN_UNDEF or SHN_ABS. st_info packs binding and type.
A section-defined symbol's value becomes meaningful together with its section placement. An absolute symbol, such as one created by .equ, does not need a section base added. Relocations refer to symbol-table entry numbers, so preserving those relationships matters when objects are combined.