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<h3 class="section">19.1 Active Targets</h3>

<p><a name="index-stacking-targets-1036"></a><a name="index-active-targets-1037"></a><a name="index-multiple-targets-1038"></a>
There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
recording sessions.  Core files belong to the process class, making core file
and process mutually exclusive.  Otherwise, <span class="sc">gdb</span> can work concurrently
on multiple active targets, one in each class.  This allows you to (for
example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
the executable file after the process finishes.  Or if you start process
recording (see <a href="Reverse-Execution.html#Reverse-Execution">Reverse Execution</a>) and <code>reverse-step</code> there, you are
presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.

   <p>Use the <code>core-file</code> and <code>exec-file</code> commands to select a new core
file or executable target (see <a href="Files.html#Files">Commands to Specify Files</a>).  To
specify as a target a process that is already running, use the <code>attach</code>
command (see <a href="Attach.html#Attach">Debugging an Already-running Process</a>).

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