如下内容，翻译自官方论坛文档

文档地址如下：
https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/715385

关键内容摘抄如下：

A static library is an archive of one or more object files. It has the extension .a. Use ar, libtool, and ranlib to inspect and
manipulate these archives. The static linker, or just the linker, runs
at build time. It combines various inputs into a single output.
Typically these inputs are object files, static libraries, dynamic
libraries, and various configuration items. The output is most
commonly a Mach-O image, although it’s also possible to output an
object file. The linker may also output metadata, such as a link map.
The linker has seen three major implementations: ld — This dates from
the dawn of Mac OS X. ld64 — This was a rewrite started in the 2005
timeframe. Eventually it replaced ld completely. If you type ld, you
get ld64. ld_prime — This was introduced with Xcode 15. This isn’t a
separate tool. Rather, ld now supports the -ld_classic and -ld_new
options to select a specific implementation. Note During the Xcode 15
beta cycle these options were -ld64 and -ld_prime. I continue to use
those names because the definition of new changes over time (some of
us still think of ld64 as the new linker ;–).

翻译

静态库是由一个或多个目标文件组成的存档,它使用 .a 作为文件扩展名。可以使用 ar、libtool 和 ranlib来检查和操作这些存档。

静态链接器(static linker),或者直接叫链接器(linker),在构建时运行。它将各种输入组合成一个输出。这些输入通常是对象文件、静态库、动态库以及各种配置项。输出最常见的是Mach-O 映像,不过也可以输出一个对象文件。链接器还可以输出元数据,例如link map。

链接器经历了三个主要实现:

ld —— 这可以追溯到 Mac OS X 开始的时期。

ld64 —— 这是一个 2005 年时段开始的重写。最终它完全取代了 ld。如果输入 ld,你获得的就是 ld64。

ld_prime —— 这是随着 Xcode 15 引入的。这不是一个单独的工具。相反,ld 现在支持 -ld_classic 和
-ld_new 选项来选择特定实现。

注意:在 Xcode 15 beta 阶段,这些选项是 -ld64 和-ld_prime。我继续使用这些名称,因为新旧的定义会随时间变化(我们中的一些人仍然认为 ld64 是新的链接器;-))。