An application binary interface (ABI) is the set of binary-level rules that lets compiled software components work together. It governs matters such as how functions receive arguments and return values, how data is laid out, and how compiled programs interact with platform interfaces. An ABI is specific to a target architecture and system; there is no single universal ABI.
What does an ABI define?
An ABI is a contract for software at the compiled, binary level. The System V specification describes its purpose as defining “a system interface for compiled application programs” and notes that System V is a family of specifications, not one universal document: a generic portion is combined with a processor-specific supplement for a particular hardware architecture. See the System V Application Binary Interface.
Depending on the target and specification, ABI rules can cover:
- How a caller passes arguments and how a function returns results.
- How types and data structures are sized, aligned, and laid out in memory.
- Which registers and stack locations are used, and which registers must be preserved.
- How compiled programs interact with binary formats, exceptions, and unwinding.
A calling convention—the rules for making a function call—is one part of an ABI, not a synonym for the whole ABI. Microsoft’s x64 documentation, for example, discusses calling conventions alongside type and storage layout, registers, stack usage, exception handling, and related conventions (x64 calling convention; x64 ABI conventions).
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How is an ABI different from an API?
An API is the interface programmers use when writing source code: it describes available operations and how code is expected to call them. An ABI is the lower-level agreement that compiled components rely on when they communicate. The distinction matters because source code that uses the same API can still encounter an ABI mismatch if a library or platform expects different binary-level rules. The .NET team’s discussion of interoperation describes ABI as the contract for communicating with a platform or language and distinguishes type-system rules from the calling convention that transfers data (Conversation about .NET interop).
Why does ABI compatibility matter?
When separately compiled components meet—for example, an application calling a library—both sides need compatible assumptions about function calls and data representation. If those assumptions differ, the boundary can behave incorrectly even when the source-level intent looks the same. ABI compatibility is therefore important when building or using compiled libraries, connecting code written in different languages, and targeting a particular platform.
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Why does an ABI depend on the target?
An ABI must be understood in the context of the architecture and system it serves. A label such as “x64 ABI” alone may not identify the relevant platform conventions: Microsoft’s x64 documentation describes its own conventions, while System V combines generic and processor-specific specifications. The RISC-V ABI specification is also organized into calling-convention, ELF, and DWARF portions, illustrating that an ABI document can address more than function calls. Consult the RISC-V Ratified Specifications Library for its specification structure.
When checking whether two components can interoperate, compare the relevant rules for the exact targets rather than relying on a shared architecture name:
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- Target architecture and operating system.
- Argument-passing and return-value conventions.
- Type sizes, alignment, and data layout.
- Register use and stack rules.
- Binary-format, exception, and unwind conventions relevant to the components.
Where should you check the exact rules?
Use the ABI specification and platform documentation for the architecture, operating system, compiler/toolchain, and ABI revision involved. A general definition explains the kinds of rules an ABI contains; it does not establish the detailed behavior of every target or guarantee compatibility between particular libraries.
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