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Introduction

Ghidra supports Python scripting through Jython, a Java implementation of Python 2.7. Python scripts provide a more concise syntax compared to Java while still offering full access to the Ghidra API.
For modern Python 3 support, see PyGhidra which uses native CPython.

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Python Script Structure

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Basic Template

## ###
# Script description
# @category Examples
# @runtime Jython

from ghidra.app.script import GhidraScript
from ghidra.program.model.listing import CodeUnit

# Global state variables available:
# - currentProgram
# - currentAddress
# - currentLocation
# - currentSelection
# - currentHighlight
# - monitor

def main():
    # Your script code here
    println("Hello from Python!")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

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Script Metadata

Use comment directives for metadata: 
## Description of what this script does
# @category Analysis
# @author Your Name
# @keybinding F6
# @menupath Tools.Python Scripts.My Script
# @runtime Jython

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Accessing the Ghidra API

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State Variables

Python scripts automatically have access to these variables: 
# Program access
program = currentProgram
if program is None:
    println("No program is open")
    exit()

# Current location
addr = currentAddress
if addr:
    println("Current address: " + addr.toString())

# Selection
if currentSelection and not currentSelection.isEmpty():
    println("Selection exists")

# Task monitor
if monitor.isCancelled():
    println("User cancelled")
    exit()

​
Importing Ghidra Classes

# Address operations
from ghidra.program.model.address import Address, AddressSet

# Listing operations
from ghidra.program.model.listing import (
    CodeUnit, Function, Instruction, Data, Listing
)

# Symbol operations
from ghidra.program.model.symbol import (
    Symbol, SymbolTable, SourceType, RefType
)

# Memory operations
from ghidra.program.model.mem import Memory, MemoryBlock

# Data types
from ghidra.program.model.data import (
    DataType, StringDataType, PointerDataType
)

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Common Operations

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Address Manipulation

# Create address from offset
addr = toAddr(0x401000)
addr = toAddr("0x401000")

# Address arithmetic
next_addr = addr.add(4)
prev_addr = addr.subtract(4)
offset = addr.getOffset()

# Get program bounds
min_addr = currentProgram.getMinAddress()
max_addr = currentProgram.getMaxAddress()

​
Memory Access

mem = currentProgram.getMemory()

# Read bytes
bytes_array = getBytes(addr, 16)
for b in bytes_array:
    print("%02x" % (b & 0xff))

# Read integers
value = getInt(addr)
qword = getLong(addr)
word = getShort(addr)
byte_val = getByte(addr)

# Write data (requires transaction)
tx_id = currentProgram.startTransaction("Write Data")
try:
    setByte(addr, 0x90)
    setInt(addr, 0x12345678)
    currentProgram.endTransaction(tx_id, True)
except:
    currentProgram.endTransaction(tx_id, False)
    raise

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Listing Operations

listing = currentProgram.getListing()

# Get code unit
cu = listing.getCodeUnitAt(addr)
if cu:
    println("Code unit: " + str(cu))

# Iterate instructions
instruction_iter = listing.getInstructions(addr, True)
while instruction_iter.hasNext():
    if monitor.isCancelled():
        break
    instr = instruction_iter.next()
    println("%s: %s" % (instr.getAddress(), instr.getMnemonicString()))

# Get data
data = listing.getDataAt(addr)
if data:
    println("Data type: " + data.getDataType().getName())

​
Function Operations

# Get function
func = getFunctionAt(addr)
func = getFunctionContaining(addr)

if func:
    # Function properties
    name = func.getName()
    entry = func.getEntryPoint()
    body = func.getBody()
    
    println("Function: " + name)
    println("Entry: " + entry.toString())
    
    # Parameters
    params = func.getParameters()
    for param in params:
        println("%s: %s" % (param.getName(), param.getDataType()))
    
    # Return type
    ret_type = func.getReturnType()
    println("Returns: " + ret_type.getName())

# Iterate all functions
func_iter = listing.getFunctions(True)
while func_iter.hasNext():
    f = func_iter.next()
    println("%s @ %s" % (f.getName(), f.getEntryPoint()))

​
Symbol Operations

sym_table = currentProgram.getSymbolTable()

# Get symbols at address
symbols = sym_table.getSymbols(addr)
for sym in symbols:
    println("%s - %s" % (sym.getName(), sym.getSymbolType()))

# Get primary symbol
primary = sym_table.getPrimarySymbol(addr)
if primary:
    println("Primary: " + primary.getName())

# Create label (requires transaction)
tx_id = currentProgram.startTransaction("Create Label")
try:
    createLabel(addr, "my_label", True)
    currentProgram.endTransaction(tx_id, True)
except:
    currentProgram.endTransaction(tx_id, False)
    raise

# Find symbols by name
sym_iter = sym_table.getSymbolIterator("main", True)
while sym_iter.hasNext():
    sym = sym_iter.next()
    println("Found: %s @ %s" % (sym.getName(), sym.getAddress()))

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Comments

cu = listing.getCodeUnitAt(addr)

# Set comments (requires transaction)
tx_id = currentProgram.startTransaction("Add Comments")
try:
    cu.setComment(CodeUnit.EOL_COMMENT, "End of line comment")
    cu.setComment(CodeUnit.PRE_COMMENT, "Pre comment")
    cu.setComment(CodeUnit.POST_COMMENT, "Post comment")
    cu.setComment(CodeUnit.PLATE_COMMENT, "Plate comment")
    currentProgram.endTransaction(tx_id, True)
except:
    currentProgram.endTransaction(tx_id, False)
    raise

# Read comments
eol_comment = cu.getComment(CodeUnit.EOL_COMMENT)
pre_comment = cu.getComment(CodeUnit.PRE_COMMENT)

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Real Script Examples

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Example 1: Locate Memory Address for File Offset

Source: LocateMemoryAddressesForFileOffset.py 
## ###
# Locate memory address for a file offset
# @category Examples   
# @runtime Jython

import sys
from ghidra.program.model.address import Address
from ghidra.program.model.listing import CodeUnit

def getFileOffset():
    userFileOffset = askString('File offset', 
        'Please provide a hexadecimal file offset')
    try:
        int(userFileOffset, 16)
    except ValueError:
        raise ValueError('Please provide a hexadecimal file offset.')
    myFileOffset = long(userFileOffset, 16)
    if myFileOffset < 0:
        raise ValueError('Offset cannot be a negative value.')
    return myFileOffset

def processAddress(addr, memBlockName, fileOffset):
    println('File offset ' + hex(fileOffset) + 
        ' is associated with memory block:address ' + 
        memBlockName + ':' + addr.toString())
    
    myCodeUnit = currentProgram.getListing().getCodeUnitContaining(addr)
    comment = myCodeUnit.getComment(0)
    
    new_comment = (getScriptName() + ': File offset: ' + hex(fileOffset) + 
        ', Memory block:address ' + memBlockName + ':' + addr.toString())
    
    if not comment:
        myCodeUnit.setComment(0, new_comment)
    else:
        myCodeUnit.setComment(0, comment + ' ' + new_comment)

myFileOffset = getFileOffset()
mem = currentProgram.getMemory()
addressList = mem.locateAddressesForFileOffset(myFileOffset)

if addressList.isEmpty():
    println('No memory address found for: ' + hex(myFileOffset))
elif addressList.size() == 1:
    address = addressList.get(0)
    processAddress(address, mem.getBlock(address).getName(), myFileOffset)
else:
    println('Possible memory block:address are:')
    for addr in addressList:
        println(mem.getBlock(addr).getName() + ":" + addr.toString())

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Example 2: Find Strings in Called Functions

Source: RecursiveStringFinder.py (simplified) 
## ###
# Find all strings used within a function and its callees
# @category: Functions
# @runtime Jython

import ghidra.app.script.GhidraScript
import ghidra.program.model.data.StringDataType as StringDataType

def getStringAtAddr(addr):
    """Get string at an address, if present"""
    data = getDataAt(addr)
    if data is not None:
        dt = data.getDataType()
        if isinstance(dt, StringDataType):
            return str(data)
    return None

def getStringReferences(insn):
    """Get strings referenced in instruction operands"""
    numOperands = insn.getNumOperands()
    found = []
    
    for i in range(numOperands):
        opRefs = insn.getOperandReferences(i)
        for o in opRefs:
            if o.getReferenceType().isData():
                string = getStringAtAddr(o.getToAddress())
                if string is not None:
                    found.append((insn.getMinAddress(), 
                        o.getToAddress(), string))
    return found

def getFunctionReferences(insn):
    """Return functions referenced in the instruction"""
    numOperands = insn.getNumOperands()
    lst = []
    
    for i in range(numOperands):
        opRefs = insn.getOperandReferences(i)
        for o in opRefs:
            if o.getReferenceType().isCall():
                lst.append((insn.getMinAddress(), o.getToAddress()))
    return lst

# Main logic
bigfunc = getFunctionContaining(currentAddress)
if bigfunc is None:
    println("Please place the cursor within a function!")
else:
    AddrSetView = bigfunc.getBody()
    addresses = AddrSetView.getAddresses(True)
    
    strings_found = []
    while addresses.hasNext():
        addr = addresses.next()
        insn = getInstructionAt(addr)
        if insn is not None:
            strings = getStringReferences(insn)
            strings_found.extend(strings)
    
    println("Strings found:")
    for from_addr, to_addr, string in strings_found:
        println("  %s -> %s: %s" % (from_addr, to_addr, string))
    
    println("Done!")

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User Interaction

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Ask Methods

# Ask for string
name = askString("Input", "Enter name:")
if name is None:
    exit()  # User cancelled

# Ask for integer
count = askInt("Count", "Enter count:")

# Ask for address
addr = askAddress("Address", "Enter address:")

# Ask for file
file_obj = askFile("Output File", "Choose:")

# Ask for directory
dir_obj = askDirectory("Directory", "Choose:")

# Ask yes/no
proceed = askYesNo("Confirm", "Continue processing?")

# Ask choice
from java.util import Arrays
choice = askChoice("Selection", "Choose option:",
    ["Option1", "Option2", "Option3"], "Option1")

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Output Methods

# Print to console
println("Message")
print("No newline")

# Print errors
printerr("Error occurred!")

# Format output
println("Address: 0x%x, Value: %d" % (addr.getOffset(), value))

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Python-Specific Features

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List Comprehensions

# Get all function names
func_iter = listing.getFunctions(True)
func_names = [f.getName() for f in func_iter]

# Filter functions by prefix
my_funcs = [f for f in listing.getFunctions(True) 
            if f.getName().startswith("my_")]

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Dictionary Usage

# Build function address map
func_map = {}
for func in listing.getFunctions(True):
    func_map[func.getName()] = func.getEntryPoint()

# Lookup
if "main" in func_map:
    println("main @ " + func_map["main"].toString())

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Exception Handling

try:
    # Risky operation
    value = getInt(addr)
except Exception as e:
    printerr("Error: " + str(e))
    import traceback
    traceback.print_exc()
finally:
    println("Cleanup")

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Limitations

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Jython 2.7

Jython is based on Python 2.7, which has several limitations:
  • No Python 3 syntax (print is a statement, not function)
  • No f-strings
  • Limited standard library
  • No recent Python packages

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Java Integration

Some Python idioms don’t work with Java objects: 
# This doesn't work
for i in range(instruction.getNumOperands()):
    # Java arrays aren't iterable in Jython

# Use this instead
for i in xrange(instruction.getNumOperands()):
    op = instruction.getOperand(i)

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Performance

Jython scripts are generally slower than Java scripts due to interpretation overhead.

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Migrating to PyGhidra

For modern Python 3 support, consider PyGhidra: 
# PyGhidra example (Python 3)
import pyghidra
pyghidra.start()

with pyghidra.open_program("binary.exe") as flat_api:
    program = flat_api.getCurrentProgram()
    listing = program.getListing()
    
    for func in listing.getFunctions(True):
        print(f"{func.getName()} @ {func.getEntryPoint()}")

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Best Practices

  1. Check for None - Always validate objects before use
  2. Use transactions - Wrap modifications in transactions
  3. Monitor cancellation - Check monitor.isCancelled() in loops
  4. Handle exceptions - Use try/except for robustness
  5. Import at top - Import all Ghidra classes at script start

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