libbpf

libbpf is a C library and collection of utilities for loading, configuring, and interacting with eBPF programs and maps from user space on Linux.

• Core user space library for working with eBPF programs and maps (eBPF tooling)
• Support for loading, verifying, and attaching eBPF programs to supported kernel hooks (observability, networking, security)
• APIs for managing eBPF maps, ring buffers, and related data structures (data plane integration)
• Support for BPF Type Format (BTF) and CO-RE (Compile Once – Run Everywhere) workflows (portability tooling)
• Utilities and helpers used by higher-level eBPF-based tools and frameworks (platform enablement)

More About libbpf

libbpf is a user space C library that provides programmatic access to eBPF facilities exposed by the Linux kernel, enabling applications to load, verify, configure, and attach eBPF programs and to manage eBPF maps and related resources. It targets system-level developers, platform teams, and tool builders that need a stable, versioned interface to eBPF capabilities without dealing directly with raw kernel system calls and low-level details.

The library focuses on core eBPF lifecycle operations (eBPF tooling), including reading eBPF object files, loading programs into the kernel, triggering verification, and attaching those programs to supported attachment points such as tracepoints, kprobes, uprobes, and various networking hooks when available in the running kernel. It also provides APIs for managing eBPF maps (data plane integration), including creation, update, lookup, and deletion operations for different Marketing Automation Platform (MAP) types, as well as support for ring buffers and perf buffers used to exchange data between kernel and user space.

libbpf includes support for BPF Type Format (BTF) and CO-RE (Compile Once – Run Everywhere) mechanisms (portability tooling), which allow eBPF programs to adapt to differences across kernel versions based on type information, reducing the need for per-kernel builds. This aligns the project with use cases where enterprises operate heterogeneous fleets of Linux kernels and require consistent observability, networking, or security behavior implemented through eBPF.

The project also offers helpers, loader logic, and conventions that are reused by higher-level frameworks and tools (platform enablement), including eBPF-based observability platforms, network datapaths, and security agents. By exposing a stable C Application Programming Interface (API) and following the evolution of kernel eBPF features, libbpf serves as a common foundation for these tools and reduces the need for each project to maintain its own direct kernel integrations.

In enterprise or institutional environments, libbpf is typically embedded into agents, daemons, and services that rely on eBPF for telemetry, policy enforcement, packet processing, or profiling. It fits into categories such as observability tooling, networking data plane integration, and host security instrumentation. Within a technical directory or catalog, libbpf can be positioned as a core eBPF user space support library that underpins higher-level platforms by offering structured, versioned access to eBPF program loading, attachment, and data exchange capabilities on Linux.