# String references - DE Decompiler

> Tools > String references helps locate recognized literals and the procedures associated with them. String-reference browsing is available in Free Lite and commercial editions.

Canonical HTML: <https://www.de-decompiler.com/help/string_references.htm>

## String references

Tools > String references helps locate recognized literals and the procedures associated with them. String-reference browsing is available in Free Lite and commercial editions.

![The string-reference browser.](https://www.de-decompiler.com/image/help/string_references.png)
The string-reference browser.

Use **Search** and **Find next** to locate an interesting literal. Double-click a string to open a procedure that references it; double-click again to continue finding its uses. **OK** navigates to the selected string and closes the dialog; **Cancel** closes the dialog.

The list contains strings collected during disassembly. In Fast decompilation mode, preliminary analysis can supply these references when **Analyze prototypes** is enabled. If DE Decompiler reports that a full pass is required, disable **Fast decompilation** and reopen the input. In Lite, selecting a reference opens the native disassembly. Inspect referring procedures and the corresponding bytes to determine how a value is used. Paths, registry-related strings, network addresses and command fragments can help prioritize code review.

A reference is an analysis lead. The presence of a string in a procedure does not establish that it is passed to a particular API or that the relevant branch executes. Encrypted, dynamically constructed or otherwise unrecognized strings can be absent.

### Editing a recognized string

Right-click a supported string and select **Edit string**. The replacement must not be longer than the original string because the file does not reserve space for a larger value. Confirming the edit modifies the file directly; this operation does not create a backup and cannot be undone through the string-edit dialog. Work on a copy and preserve the unmodified sample.

In commercial editions, the context menu also provides **HEX Editor** for inspecting the string's bytes. The HEX Editor offers undo and redo for its own edits. Check the resulting bytes and affected code after a change.