Difference between ELF and kernel file

Forum: The Linux Kernel Hackers' Guide
Keywords: ELF binary kernel gcc output
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 1998 22:43:54 GMT
From: Thomas Prokosch <Thomas.Prokosch@jk.uni-linz.ac.at>

I would like to know the difference between a normal ELF executable and a kernel image. Of course I know that the ELF file format contains pointers and different sections and a kernel file should be rather a binary image only, but how are both related to each other? Both, ELF and kernel image, are output by gcc, how do I convert an ELF binary to a kernel image?