diff --git a/bfd/elf-bfd.h b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
index 04785a814e8..8bac21f2f64 100644
--- a/bfd/elf-bfd.h
+++ b/bfd/elf-bfd.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "elf/external.h"
 #include "elf/internal.h"
 #include "bfdlink.h"
+#include "str-util.h"
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
@@ -3095,7 +3096,7 @@ static inline bfd_boolean
 bfd_section_is_ctf (const asection *sec)
 {
   const char *name = bfd_section_name (sec);
-  return strncmp (name, ".ctf", 4) == 0 && (name[4] == 0 || name[4] == '.');
+  return startswith (name, ".ctf") && (name[4] == 0 || name[4] == '.');
 }
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
diff --git a/bfd/elf.c b/bfd/elf.c
index 3f9927072ef..e7b8cf174a9 100644
--- a/bfd/elf.c
+++ b/bfd/elf.c
@@ -1084,19 +1084,19 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 	 not any sort of flag.  Their SEC_ALLOC bits are cleared.  */
       if (name [0] == '.')
 	{
-	  if (strncmp (name, ".debug", 6) == 0
-	      || strncmp (name, ".gnu.debuglto_.debug_", 21) == 0
-	      || strncmp (name, ".gnu.linkonce.wi.", 17) == 0
-	      || strncmp (name, ".zdebug", 7) == 0)
+	  if (startswith (name, ".debug")
+	      || startswith (name, ".gnu.debuglto_.debug_")
+	      || startswith (name, ".gnu.linkonce.wi.")
+	      || startswith (name, ".zdebug"))
 	    flags |= SEC_DEBUGGING | SEC_ELF_OCTETS;
-	  else if (strncmp (name, GNU_BUILD_ATTRS_SECTION_NAME, 21) == 0
-		   || strncmp (name, ".note.gnu", 9) == 0)
+	  else if (startswith (name, GNU_BUILD_ATTRS_SECTION_NAME)
+		   || startswith (name, ".note.gnu"))
 	    {
 	      flags |= SEC_ELF_OCTETS;
 	      opb = 1;
 	    }
-	  else if (strncmp (name, ".line", 5) == 0
-		   || strncmp (name, ".stab", 5) == 0
+	  else if (startswith (name, ".line")
+		   || startswith (name, ".stab")
 		   || strcmp (name, ".gdb_index") == 0)
 	    flags |= SEC_DEBUGGING;
 	}
@@ -1277,8 +1277,7 @@ _bfd_elf_make_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
 
   /* GCC uses .gnu.lto_.lto.<some_hash> as a LTO bytecode information
      section.  */
-  const char *lto_section_name = ".gnu.lto_.lto.";
-  if (strncmp (name, lto_section_name, strlen (lto_section_name)) == 0)
+  if (startswith (name, ".gnu.lto_.lto."))
     {
       struct lto_section lsection;
       if (bfd_get_section_contents (abfd, newsect, &lsection, 0,
@@ -3677,7 +3676,7 @@ elf_get_reloc_section (asection *reloc_sec)
 
   /* We look up the section the relocs apply to by name.  */
   name = reloc_sec->name;
-  if (strncmp (name, ".rel", 4) != 0)
+  if (!startswith (name, ".rel"))
     return NULL;
   name += 4;
   if (type == SHT_RELA && *name++ != 'a')
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-arc.c b/bfd/elf32-arc.c
index df12fd33a10..88f388dfe9b 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-arc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-arc.c
@@ -2759,7 +2759,7 @@ elf_arc_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	{
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (s->name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (startswith (s->name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0 && s != htab->srelplt)
 	    relocs_exist = TRUE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-m32r.c b/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
index 95e0c17bc5c..20bba31c733 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-m32r.c
@@ -3615,8 +3615,8 @@ m32r_elf_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   const char *name = hdr->bfd_section->name;
 
-  if (strncmp (name, ".sbss", 5) == 0
-      || strncmp (name, ".sdata", 6) == 0)
+  if (startswith (name, ".sbss")
+      || startswith (name, ".sdata"))
     hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
 
   return TRUE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-microblaze.c b/bfd/elf32-microblaze.c
index 1571bbb118a..ef059f1e668 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-microblaze.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-microblaze.c
@@ -3050,7 +3050,7 @@ microblaze_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	 of the dynobj section names depend upon the input files.  */
       name = bfd_section_name (s);
 
-      if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      if (startswith (name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size == 0)
 	    {
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-nds32.c b/bfd/elf32-nds32.c
index 01d0702255a..d1ebfccd299 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-nds32.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-nds32.c
@@ -4439,7 +4439,7 @@ nds32_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	{
 	  got_size += s->size;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (bfd_section_name (s), ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (startswith (bfd_section_name (s), ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0 && s != elf_hash_table (info)->srelplt)
 	    relocs = TRUE;
@@ -5426,7 +5426,7 @@ nds32_elf_relocate_section (bfd *		   output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (startswith (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_section_name (input_section),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -6870,8 +6870,7 @@ static unsigned int
 nds32_elf_action_discarded (asection *sec)
 {
 
-  if (strncmp
-      (".gcc_except_table", sec->name, sizeof (".gcc_except_table") - 1) == 0)
+  if (startswith (sec->name, ".gcc_except_table"))
     return 0;
 
   return _bfd_elf_default_action_discarded (sec);
@@ -7239,7 +7238,7 @@ nds32_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd, struct bfd_link_info *info,
 		  if (name == NULL)
 		    return FALSE;
 
-		  BFD_ASSERT (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) == 0
+		  BFD_ASSERT (startswith (name, ".rela")
 			      && strcmp (bfd_section_name (sec),
 					 name + 5) == 0);
 
@@ -12450,8 +12449,8 @@ nds32_elf_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   const char *name = hdr->bfd_section->name;
 
-  if (strncmp (name, ".sbss", 5) == 0
-      || strncmp (name, ".sdata", 6) == 0)
+  if (startswith (name, ".sbss")
+      || startswith (name, ".sdata"))
     hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
 
   return TRUE;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-or1k.c b/bfd/elf32-or1k.c
index 82a5b4ac8e2..ac460c2eb09 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-or1k.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-or1k.c
@@ -2110,7 +2110,7 @@ or1k_elf_check_relocs (bfd *abfd,
 		    if (name == NULL)
 		      return FALSE;
 
-		    if (strncmp (name, ".rela", 5) != 0
+		    if (!startswith (name, ".rela")
 			|| strcmp (bfd_section_name (sec), name + 5) != 0)
 		      {
 			_bfd_error_handler
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-ppc.c b/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
index fe8b6fdb7d1..77a3187e0a2 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-ppc.c
@@ -1338,10 +1338,10 @@ ppc_elf_section_from_shdr (bfd *abfd,
   if (hdr->sh_type == SHT_ORDERED)
     flags |= SEC_SORT_ENTRIES;
 
-  if (strncmp (name, ".PPC.EMB", 8) == 0)
+  if (startswith (name, ".PPC.EMB"))
     name += 8;
-  if (strncmp (name, ".sbss", 5) == 0
-      || strncmp (name, ".sdata", 6) == 0)
+  if (startswith (name, ".sbss")
+      || startswith (name, ".sdata"))
     flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
 
   return (flags == 0
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-rx.c b/bfd/elf32-rx.c
index e2f4c9fb34a..b5ad93c0f93 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-rx.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-rx.c
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ rx_elf_relocate_section
 	  name = h->root.root.string;
 	}
 
-      if (strncmp (name, "$tableentry$default$", 20) == 0)
+      if (startswith (name, "$tableentry$default$"))
 	{
 	  bfd_vma entry_vma;
 	  int idx;
@@ -3759,7 +3759,7 @@ rx_table_find (struct bfd_hash_entry *vent, void *vinfo)
   sec = ent->u.def.section;
   abfd = sec->owner;
 
-  if (strncmp (name, "$tablestart$", 12))
+  if (!startswith (name, "$tablestart$"))
     return TRUE;
 
   sec->flags |= SEC_KEEP;
@@ -3895,7 +3895,7 @@ rx_table_map (struct bfd_hash_entry *vent, void *vinfo)
 
   name = ent->root.string;
 
-  if (strncmp (name, "$tablestart$", 12))
+  if (!startswith (name, "$tablestart$"))
     return TRUE;
 
   tname = name + 12;
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-spu.c b/bfd/elf32-spu.c
index c31ab98b310..ed83e9c4bb7 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-spu.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-spu.c
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ spu_elf_backend_symbol_processing (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, asymbol *sym)
 {
   if (sym->name != NULL
       && sym->section != bfd_abs_section_ptr
-      && strncmp (sym->name, "_EAR_", 5) == 0)
+      && startswith (sym->name, "_EAR_"))
     sym->flags |= BSF_KEEP;
 }
 
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ spu_elf_find_overlays (struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	     an overlay, in the sense that it might be loaded in
 	     by the overlay manager, but rather the initial
 	     section contents for the overlay buffer.  */
-	  if (strncmp (s->name, ".ovl.init", 9) != 0)
+	  if (!startswith (s->name, ".ovl.init"))
 	    {
 	      num_buf = ((s->vma - vma_start) >> htab->line_size_log2) + 1;
 	      set_id = (num_buf == prev_buf)? set_id + 1 : 0;
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@ spu_elf_find_overlays (struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	      if (spu_elf_section_data (s0)->u.o.ovl_index == 0)
 		{
 		  ++num_buf;
-		  if (strncmp (s0->name, ".ovl.init", 9) != 0)
+		  if (!startswith (s0->name, ".ovl.init"))
 		    {
 		      alloc_sec[ovl_index] = s0;
 		      spu_elf_section_data (s0)->u.o.ovl_index = ++ovl_index;
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ spu_elf_find_overlays (struct bfd_link_info *info)
 		  else
 		    ovl_end = s->vma + s->size;
 		}
-	      if (strncmp (s->name, ".ovl.init", 9) != 0)
+	      if (!startswith (s->name, ".ovl.init"))
 		{
 		  alloc_sec[ovl_index] = s;
 		  spu_elf_section_data (s)->u.o.ovl_index = ++ovl_index;
@@ -970,7 +970,7 @@ needs_ovl_stub (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h,
       /* setjmp always goes via an overlay stub, because then the return
 	 and hence the longjmp goes via __ovly_return.  That magically
 	 makes setjmp/longjmp between overlays work.  */
-      if (strncmp (h->root.root.string, "setjmp", 6) == 0
+      if (startswith (h->root.root.string, "setjmp")
 	  && (h->root.root.string[6] == '\0' || h->root.root.string[6] == '@'))
 	ret = call_ovl_stub;
     }
@@ -1496,7 +1496,7 @@ allocate_spuear_stubs (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h, void *inf)
   if ((h->root.type == bfd_link_hash_defined
        || h->root.type == bfd_link_hash_defweak)
       && h->def_regular
-      && strncmp (h->root.root.string, "_SPUEAR_", 8) == 0
+      && startswith (h->root.root.string, "_SPUEAR_")
       && (sym_sec = h->root.u.def.section) != NULL
       && sym_sec->output_section != bfd_abs_section_ptr
       && spu_elf_section_data (sym_sec->output_section) != NULL
@@ -1521,7 +1521,7 @@ build_spuear_stubs (struct elf_link_hash_entry *h, void *inf)
   if ((h->root.type == bfd_link_hash_defined
        || h->root.type == bfd_link_hash_defweak)
       && h->def_regular
-      && strncmp (h->root.root.string, "_SPUEAR_", 8) == 0
+      && startswith (h->root.root.string, "_SPUEAR_")
       && (sym_sec = h->root.u.def.section) != NULL
       && sym_sec->output_section != bfd_abs_section_ptr
       && spu_elf_section_data (sym_sec->output_section) != NULL
@@ -3455,7 +3455,7 @@ mark_overlay_section (struct function_info *fun,
   if (!fun->sec->linker_mark
       && (htab->params->ovly_flavour != ovly_soft_icache
 	  || htab->params->non_ia_text
-	  || strncmp (fun->sec->name, ".text.ia.", 9) == 0
+	  || startswith (fun->sec->name, ".text.ia.")
 	  || strcmp (fun->sec->name, ".init") == 0
 	  || strcmp (fun->sec->name, ".fini") == 0))
     {
@@ -3483,7 +3483,7 @@ mark_overlay_section (struct function_info *fun,
 		return FALSE;
 	      memcpy (name, ".rodata", sizeof (".rodata"));
 	    }
-	  else if (strncmp (fun->sec->name, ".text.", 6) == 0)
+	  else if (startswith (fun->sec->name, ".text."))
 	    {
 	      size_t len = strlen (fun->sec->name);
 	      name = bfd_malloc (len + 3);
@@ -3492,7 +3492,7 @@ mark_overlay_section (struct function_info *fun,
 	      memcpy (name, ".rodata", sizeof (".rodata"));
 	      memcpy (name + 7, fun->sec->name + 5, len - 4);
 	    }
-	  else if (strncmp (fun->sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.t.", 16) == 0)
+	  else if (startswith (fun->sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.t."))
 	    {
 	      size_t len = strlen (fun->sec->name) + 1;
 	      name = bfd_malloc (len);
@@ -3583,7 +3583,7 @@ mark_overlay_section (struct function_info *fun,
      a stack!  Also, don't mark .ovl.init as an overlay.  */
   if (fun->lo + fun->sec->output_offset + fun->sec->output_section->vma
       == info->output_bfd->start_address
-      || strncmp (fun->sec->output_section->name, ".ovl.init", 9) == 0)
+      || startswith (fun->sec->output_section->name, ".ovl.init"))
     {
       fun->sec->linker_mark = 0;
       if (fun->rodata != NULL)
@@ -4317,7 +4317,7 @@ spu_elf_auto_overlay (struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	  }
 	else if ((sec->flags & (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD)) == (SEC_ALLOC | SEC_LOAD)
 		 && sec->output_section->owner == info->output_bfd
-		 && strncmp (sec->output_section->name, ".ovl.init", 9) == 0)
+		 && startswith (sec->output_section->name, ".ovl.init"))
 	  fixed_size -= sec->size;
       if (count != old_count)
 	bfd_arr[bfd_count++] = ibfd;
@@ -5156,7 +5156,7 @@ spu_elf_output_symbol_hook (struct bfd_link_info *info,
       && (h->root.type == bfd_link_hash_defined
 	  || h->root.type == bfd_link_hash_defweak)
       && h->def_regular
-      && strncmp (h->root.root.string, "_SPUEAR_", 8) == 0)
+      && startswith (h->root.root.string, "_SPUEAR_"))
     {
       struct got_entry *g;
 
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-tilepro.c b/bfd/elf32-tilepro.c
index 255235a4eb5..89295ba03e7 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-tilepro.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-tilepro.c
@@ -2332,7 +2332,7 @@ tilepro_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd,
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (s->name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (startswith (s->name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
diff --git a/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c b/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
index abc244c04cb..838ee8949e8 100644
--- a/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
+++ b/bfd/elf32-xtensa.c
@@ -11260,7 +11260,7 @@ xtensa_property_section_name (asection *sec, const char *base_name,
 	suffix = 0;
       prop_sec_name = xtensa_add_names (base_name, suffix);
     }
-  else if (strncmp (sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce.", linkonce_len) == 0)
+  else if (startswith (sec->name, ".gnu.linkonce."))
     {
       char *linkonce_kind = 0;
 
diff --git a/bfd/elf64-ppc.c b/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
index 741f510a28d..c1ef86e0fab 100644
--- a/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
+++ b/bfd/elf64-ppc.c
@@ -2042,8 +2042,8 @@ ppc64_elf_section_flags (const Elf_Internal_Shdr *hdr)
 {
   const char *name = hdr->bfd_section->name;
 
-  if (strncmp (name, ".sbss", 5) == 0
-      || strncmp (name, ".sdata", 6) == 0)
+  if (startswith (name, ".sbss")
+      || startswith (name, ".sdata"))
     hdr->bfd_section->flags |= SEC_SMALL_DATA;
 
   return TRUE;
@@ -15873,7 +15873,7 @@ ppc64_elf_relocate_section (bfd *output_bfd,
 		  if (*name == '.')
 		    ++name;
 
-		  if (strncmp (name, "__libc_start_main", 17) == 0
+		  if (startswith (name, "__libc_start_main")
 		      && (name[17] == 0 || name[17] == '@'))
 		    {
 		      /* Allow crt1 branch to go via a toc adjusting
diff --git a/bfd/elflink.c b/bfd/elflink.c
index c5db406f2b4..e64933e3cb6 100644
--- a/bfd/elflink.c
+++ b/bfd/elflink.c
@@ -8719,7 +8719,7 @@ resolve_section (const char *name,
 
       if (strncmp (curr->name, name, len) == 0)
 	{
-	  if (strncmp (".end", name + len, 4) == 0)
+	  if (startswith (name + len, ".end"))
 	    {
 	      *result = (curr->vma
 			 + curr->size / bfd_octets_per_byte (abfd, curr));
@@ -8832,7 +8832,7 @@ eval_symbol (bfd_vma *result,
       /* All that remains are operators.  */
 
 #define UNARY_OP(op)						\
-  if (strncmp (sym, #op, strlen (#op)) == 0)			\
+  if (startswith (sym, #op))					\
     {								\
       sym += strlen (#op);					\
       if (*sym == ':')						\
@@ -8849,7 +8849,7 @@ eval_symbol (bfd_vma *result,
     }
 
 #define BINARY_OP_HEAD(op)					\
-  if (strncmp (sym, #op, strlen (#op)) == 0)			\
+  if (startswith (sym, #op))					\
     {								\
       sym += strlen (#op);					\
       if (*sym == ':')						\
@@ -11195,10 +11195,10 @@ elf_link_input_bfd (struct elf_final_link_info *flinfo, bfd *input_bfd)
 	  /* We need to reverse-copy input .ctors/.dtors sections if
 	     they are placed in .init_array/.finit_array for output.  */
 	  if (o->size > address_size
-	      && ((strncmp (o->name, ".ctors", 6) == 0
+	      && ((startswith (o->name, ".ctors")
 		   && strcmp (o->output_section->name,
 			      ".init_array") == 0)
-		  || (strncmp (o->name, ".dtors", 6) == 0
+		  || (startswith (o->name, ".dtors")
 		      && strcmp (o->output_section->name,
 				 ".fini_array") == 0))
 	      && (o->name[6] == 0 || o->name[6] == '.'))
diff --git a/bfd/elfnn-riscv.c b/bfd/elfnn-riscv.c
index 364d67b6749..ab2b5685050 100644
--- a/bfd/elfnn-riscv.c
+++ b/bfd/elfnn-riscv.c
@@ -1515,7 +1515,7 @@ riscv_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd, struct bfd_link_info *info)
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (s->name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (startswith (s->name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-riscv.c b/bfd/elfxx-riscv.c
index 966e142be4c..40dc6944bf3 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-riscv.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-riscv.c
@@ -1802,12 +1802,12 @@ riscv_parse_subset (riscv_parse_subset_t *rps,
     }
 
   p = arch;
-  if (strncmp (p, "rv32", 4) == 0)
+  if (startswith (p, "rv32"))
     {
       *rps->xlen = 32;
       p += 4;
     }
-  else if (strncmp (p, "rv64", 4) == 0)
+  else if (startswith (p, "rv64"))
     {
       *rps->xlen = 64;
       p += 4;
diff --git a/bfd/elfxx-tilegx.c b/bfd/elfxx-tilegx.c
index 3544a3064f8..f9d8eb69f90 100644
--- a/bfd/elfxx-tilegx.c
+++ b/bfd/elfxx-tilegx.c
@@ -2578,7 +2578,7 @@ tilegx_elf_size_dynamic_sections (bfd *output_bfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED,
 	  /* Strip this section if we don't need it; see the
 	     comment below.  */
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (s->name, ".rela", 5) == 0)
+      else if (startswith (s->name, ".rela"))
 	{
 	  if (s->size != 0)
 	    {
diff --git a/bfd/opncls.c b/bfd/opncls.c
index 30ef9fd537d..b912030512b 100644
--- a/bfd/opncls.c
+++ b/bfd/opncls.c
@@ -1904,7 +1904,7 @@ get_build_id (bfd *abfd)
   if (inote.descsz <= 0
       || inote.type != NT_GNU_BUILD_ID
       || inote.namesz != 4 /* sizeof "GNU"  */
-      || strncmp (inote.namedata, "GNU", 4) != 0
+      || !startswith (inote.namedata, "GNU")
       || inote.descsz > 0x7ffffffe
       || size < (12 + BFD_ALIGN (inote.namesz, 4) + inote.descsz))
     {
diff --git a/binutils/dllwrap.c b/binutils/dllwrap.c
index bd65b98fee0..bc7104de004 100644
--- a/binutils/dllwrap.c
+++ b/binutils/dllwrap.c
@@ -840,11 +840,11 @@ Creating one, but that may not be what you want"));
   else
     which_target = UNKNOWN_TARGET;
 
-  if (! strncmp (target, "arm", 3))
+  if (startswith (target, "arm"))
     which_cpu = ARM_CPU;
-  else if (!strncmp (target, "x86_64", 6)
-	   || !strncmp (target, "athlon64", 8)
-	   || !strncmp (target, "amd64", 5))
+  else if (startswith (target, "x86_64")
+	   || startswith (target, "athlon64")
+	   || startswith (target, "amd64"))
     which_cpu = X64_CPU;
   else if (target[0] == 'i' && (target[1] >= '3' && target[1] <= '6')
 	   && target[2] == '8' && target[3] == '6')
diff --git a/binutils/objcopy.c b/binutils/objcopy.c
index f5e48e80d08..168d526f462 100644
--- a/binutils/objcopy.c
+++ b/binutils/objcopy.c
@@ -1284,7 +1284,7 @@ is_dwo_section (bfd *abfd ATTRIBUTE_UNUSED, asection *sec)
   if (len < 5)
     return FALSE;
 
-  return strncmp (name + len - 4, ".dwo", 4) == 0;
+  return startswith (name + len - 4, ".dwo");
 }
 
 /* Return TRUE if section SEC is in the update list.  */
@@ -4260,7 +4260,7 @@ static void
 handle_remove_section_option (const char *section_pattern)
 {
   find_section_list (section_pattern, TRUE, SECTION_CONTEXT_REMOVE);
-  if (strncmp (section_pattern, ".rel", 4) == 0)
+  if (startswith (section_pattern, ".rel"))
     {
       section_pattern += 4;
       if (*section_pattern == 'a')
@@ -5874,15 +5874,15 @@ copy_main (int argc, char *argv[])
 
   /* Convert input EFI target to PEI target.  */
   if (input_target != NULL
-      && strncmp (input_target, "efi-", 4) == 0)
+      && startswith (input_target, "efi-"))
     {
       char *efi;
 
       efi = xstrdup (output_target + 4);
-      if (strncmp (efi, "bsdrv-", 6) == 0
-	  || strncmp (efi, "rtdrv-", 6) == 0)
+      if (startswith (efi, "bsdrv-")
+	  || startswith (efi, "rtdrv-"))
 	efi += 2;
-      else if (strncmp (efi, "app-", 4) != 0)
+      else if (!startswith (efi, "app-"))
 	fatal (_("unknown input EFI target: %s"), input_target);
 
       input_target = efi;
@@ -5891,23 +5891,23 @@ copy_main (int argc, char *argv[])
 
   /* Convert output EFI target to PEI target.  */
   if (output_target != NULL
-      && strncmp (output_target, "efi-", 4) == 0)
+      && startswith (output_target, "efi-"))
     {
       char *efi;
 
       efi = xstrdup (output_target + 4);
-      if (strncmp (efi, "app-", 4) == 0)
+      if (startswith (efi, "app-"))
 	{
 	  if (pe_subsystem == -1)
 	    pe_subsystem = IMAGE_SUBSYSTEM_EFI_APPLICATION;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (efi, "bsdrv-", 6) == 0)
+      else if (startswith (efi, "bsdrv-"))
 	{
 	  if (pe_subsystem == -1)
 	    pe_subsystem = IMAGE_SUBSYSTEM_EFI_BOOT_SERVICE_DRIVER;
 	  efi += 2;
 	}
-      else if (strncmp (efi, "rtdrv-", 6) == 0)
+      else if (startswith (efi, "rtdrv-"))
 	{
 	  if (pe_subsystem == -1)
 	    pe_subsystem = IMAGE_SUBSYSTEM_EFI_RUNTIME_DRIVER;
diff --git a/binutils/objdump.c b/binutils/objdump.c
index cb5ce5b057c..b541f5e0d9a 100644
--- a/binutils/objdump.c
+++ b/binutils/objdump.c
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ slurp_dynamic_symtab (bfd *abfd)
 static bfd_boolean
 is_significant_symbol_name (const char * name)
 {
-  return strncmp (name, ".plt", 4) == 0 || strcmp (name, ".got") == 0;
+  return startswith (name, ".plt") || startswith (name, ".got");
 }
 
 /* Filter out (in place) symbols that are useless for disassembly.