This directive sets the weak attribute on the comma separated list of symbol
@code{names}. If the symbols do not already exist, they will be created.
-Weak symbols are supported in COFF as a GNU extension. This directive
-sets the weak attribute on the comma separated list of symbol
+On COFF targets other than PE, weak symbols are a GNU extension. This
+directive sets the weak attribute on the comma separated list of symbol
@code{names}. If the symbols do not already exist, they will be created.
-@smallexample
-@code{.weak @var{name} [ < = | == > @var{alternate}] [, ...]}
-@end smallexample
-
-On the PE target, weak aliases are supported natively. Weak aliases
-(usually called "weak externals" in PE) are created when an alternate
-name is specified. When a weak symbol is linked and the symbol is not
-defined, the weak symbol becomes an alias for the alternate symbol. If
-one equal sign is used, the linker searches for defined symbols within
-other objects and libraries. This is the usual mode, historically
-called "lazy externals." Otherwise, when two equal signs are used,
-the linker searches for defined symbols only within other objects.
-
-Non-alias weak symbols are supported on PE as a GNU extension.
+On the PE target, weak symbols are supported natively as weak aliases.
+When a weak symbol is created that is not an alias, GAS creates an
+alternate symbol to hold the default value.
@node Word
@section @code{.word @var{expressions}}