For a reason i want to unpack a static lib (libx.a) into individual object files (a.o b.o c.o), and specify these object files (a.o b.o c.o) in the linker input list instead of libx.a, with other linker options remaining the same. However, i have noticed the above change has resulted in quite some difference in the output executable. Basically, (a.o b.o c.o) method will result in larger output size. So what's the difference between the two methods (libx.a and individual object files)? And is there a way to work around? The GNU binutil (for and ar ld) version i'm using is 2.16.1 Thanks.