ld manual and 3.4.2 Commands Dealing with Files

[ali hagigat]

3.4.2 Commands Dealing with Files
AS_NEEDED(file , file , ...)
AS_NEEDED(file file ...)
This construct essentially enables ‘--as-needed’ option for all the
files listed inside of it and restores
previous ‘--as-needed’ resp. ‘--no-as-needed’ setting afterwards.
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I have copied part of ld manual. I think the above sentence does not
make sense and needs correction!
"previous ‘--as-needed’ resp.", what is it saying?