diff --git a/elf/Makefile b/elf/Makefile
index 728cb3b734..06e57300c2 100644
--- a/elf/Makefile
+++ b/elf/Makefile
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ tests-container := \
 
 tests := tst-tls9 tst-leaks1 \
 	tst-array1 tst-array2 tst-array3 tst-array4 tst-array5 \
-	tst-auxv
+	tst-auxv tst-stringtable
 tests-internal := tst-tls1 tst-tls2 $(tests-static-internal)
 tests-static := $(tests-static-normal) $(tests-static-internal)
 
diff --git a/elf/stringtable.c b/elf/stringtable.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9ade50249
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elf/stringtable.c
@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+/* String tables for ld.so.cache construction.  Implementation.
+   This file is part of the GNU C Library.
+
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
+   by the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
+
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <error.h>
+#include <ldconfig.h>
+#include <libintl.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stringtable.h>
+
+static void
+stringtable_init (struct stringtable *table)
+{
+  table->count = 0;
+  table->allocated = 16;
+  table->entries = xcalloc (table->allocated, sizeof (table->entries[0]));
+}
+
+/* 32-bit FNV-1a hash function.  */
+static uint32_t
+fnv1a (const char *string, size_t length)
+{
+  const unsigned char *p = (const unsigned char *) string;
+  uint32_t hash = 2166136261U;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < length; ++i)
+    {
+      hash ^= p[i];
+      hash *= 16777619U;
+    }
+  return hash;
+}
+
+/* Double the capacity of the hash table.  */
+static void
+stringtable_rehash (struct stringtable *table)
+{
+  /* Cannot overflow because the old allocation size (in bytes) is
+     larger.  */
+  uint32_t new_allocated = table->allocated * 2;
+  struct stringtable_entry **new_entries
+    = xcalloc (new_allocated, sizeof (table->entries[0]));
+
+  uint32_t mask = new_allocated - 1;
+  for (uint32_t i = 0; i < table->allocated; ++i)
+    for (struct stringtable_entry *e = table->entries[i]; e != NULL; )
+      {
+        struct stringtable_entry *next = e->next;
+        uint32_t hash = fnv1a (e->string, e->length);
+        uint32_t new_index = hash & mask;
+        e->next = new_entries[new_index];
+        new_entries[new_index] = e;
+        e = next;
+      }
+
+  free (table->entries);
+  table->entries = new_entries;
+  table->allocated = new_allocated;
+}
+
+struct stringtable_entry *
+stringtable_intern (struct stringtable *table, const char *string)
+{
+  if (table->allocated == 0)
+    stringtable_init (table);
+
+  size_t length = strlen (string);
+  if (length > (1U << 30))
+    error (EXIT_FAILURE, 0, _("String table string is too long"));
+  uint32_t hash = fnv1a (string, length);
+
+  /* Return a previously-existing entry.  */
+  for (struct stringtable_entry *e
+         = table->entries[hash & (table->allocated - 1)];
+       e != NULL; e = e->next)
+    if (e->length == length && memcmp (e->string, string, length) == 0)
+      return e;
+
+  /* Increase the size of the table if necessary.  Keep utilization
+     below two thirds.  */
+  if (table->count >= (1U << 30))
+    error (EXIT_FAILURE, 0, _("String table has too many entries"));
+  if (table->count * 3 > table->allocated * 2)
+    stringtable_rehash (table);
+
+  /* Add the new table entry.  */
+  ++table->count;
+  struct stringtable_entry *e
+    = xmalloc (offsetof (struct stringtable_entry, string) + length + 1);
+  uint32_t index = hash & (table->allocated - 1);
+  e->next = table->entries[index];
+  table->entries[index] = e;
+  e->length = length;
+  e->offset = 0;
+  memcpy (e->string, string, length + 1);
+  return e;
+}
+
+/* Sort reversed strings in lexicographic order.  This is used for tail
+   merging.  */
+static int
+finalize_compare (const void *l, const void *r)
+{
+  struct stringtable_entry *left = *(struct stringtable_entry **) l;
+  struct stringtable_entry *right = *(struct stringtable_entry **) r;
+  size_t to_compare;
+  if (left->length < right->length)
+    to_compare = left->length;
+  else
+    to_compare = right->length;
+  for (ssize_t i = to_compare - 1; i >= 0; --i)
+    {
+      unsigned char lch = left->string[i];
+      unsigned char rch = right->string[i];
+      if (lch != rch)
+        return lch - rch;
+    }
+  if (left->length == right->length)
+    return 0;
+  else if (left->length < right->length)
+    /* Longer strings should come first.  */
+    return 1;
+  else
+    return -1;
+}
+
+void
+stringtable_finalize (struct stringtable *table,
+                      struct stringtable_finalized *result)
+{
+  if (table->count == 0)
+    {
+      result->strings = xstrdup ("");
+      result->size = 0;
+      return;
+    }
+
+  /* Optimize the order of the strings.  */
+  struct stringtable_entry **array = xcalloc (table->count, sizeof (*array));
+  {
+    size_t j = 0;
+    for (uint32_t i = 0; i < table->allocated; ++i)
+      for (struct stringtable_entry *e = table->entries[i]; e != NULL;
+           e = e->next)
+        {
+          array[j] = e;
+          ++j;
+        }
+    assert (j == table->count);
+  }
+  qsort (array, table->count, sizeof (*array), finalize_compare);
+
+  /* Assign offsets, using table sharing if possible.  */
+  array[0]->offset = 0;
+  for (uint32_t j = 1; j < table->count; ++j)
+    {
+      struct stringtable_entry *previous = array[j - 1];
+      struct stringtable_entry *current = array[j];
+      if (previous->length >= current->length
+          && memcmp (&previous->string[previous->length - current->length],
+                     current->string, current->length) == 0)
+        current->offset = (previous->offset + previous->length
+                           - current->length);
+      else if (__builtin_add_overflow (previous->offset,
+                                       previous->length + 1,
+                                       &current->offset))
+        error (EXIT_FAILURE, 0, _("String table is too large"));
+    }
+
+  /* Allocate the result string.  */
+  {
+    struct stringtable_entry *last = array[table->count - 1];
+    if (__builtin_add_overflow (last->offset, last->length + 1,
+                                &result->size))
+      error (EXIT_FAILURE, 0, _("String table is too large"));
+  }
+  /* The strings are copied from the hash table, so the array is no
+     longer needed.  */
+  free (array);
+  result->strings = xcalloc (result->size, 1);
+
+  /* Copy the strings.  */
+  for (uint32_t i = 0; i < table->allocated; ++i)
+    for (struct stringtable_entry *e = table->entries[i]; e != NULL;
+         e = e->next)
+      if (result->strings[e->offset] == '\0')
+        memcpy (&result->strings[e->offset], e->string, e->length + 1);
+}
diff --git a/elf/stringtable.h b/elf/stringtable.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e35b6c67fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elf/stringtable.h
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+/* String tables for ld.so.cache construction.
+   This file is part of the GNU C Library.
+
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
+   by the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
+
+#ifndef _STRINGTABLE_H
+#define _STRINGTABLE_H
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+/* An entry in the string table.  Only the length and string fields are
+   expected to be used outside the string table code.  */
+struct stringtable_entry
+{
+  struct stringtable_entry *next; /* For collision resolution.  */
+  uint32_t length;                /* Length of then string.  */
+  uint32_t offset;                /* From start of finalized table.  */
+  char string[];                  /* Null-terminated string.  */
+};
+
+/* A string table.  Zero-initialization produces a valid atable.  */
+struct stringtable
+{
+  struct stringtable_entry **entries;
+  uint32_t count;                 /* Number of elements in the table.  */
+  uint32_t allocated;             /* Length of the entries array.  */
+};
+
+/* Adds STRING to TABLE.  May return the address of an existing entry.  */
+struct stringtable_entry *stringtable_intern (struct stringtable *table,
+                                              const char *string);
+
+/* Result of stringtable_finalize.  SIZE bytes at STRINGS should be
+   written to the file.  */
+struct stringtable_finalized
+{
+  char *strings;
+  size_t size;
+};
+
+/* Assigns offsets to string table entries and computes the serialized
+   form of the string table.  */
+void stringtable_finalize (struct stringtable *table,
+                           struct stringtable_finalized *result);
+
+/* Deallocate the string table (but not the TABLE pointer itself).  */
+void stringtable_free (struct stringtable *table);
+
+#endif /* _STRINGTABLE_H */
diff --git a/elf/stringtable_free.c b/elf/stringtable_free.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0e5296e429
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elf/stringtable_free.c
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/* String tables for ld.so.cache construction.  Deallocation (for tests only).
+   This file is part of the GNU C Library.
+
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
+   by the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stringtable.h>
+
+void
+stringtable_free (struct stringtable *table)
+{
+  for (uint32_t i = 0; i < table->allocated; ++i)
+    for (struct stringtable_entry *e = table->entries[i]; e != NULL; )
+      {
+        struct stringtable_entry *next = e->next;
+        free (e);
+        e = next;
+      }
+  free (table->entries);
+  *table = (struct stringtable) { 0, };
+}
diff --git a/elf/tst-stringtable.c b/elf/tst-stringtable.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..78ca5434df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/elf/tst-stringtable.c
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+/* Unit test for ldconfig string tables.
+   This file is part of the GNU C Library.
+
+   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published
+   by the Free Software Foundation; version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with this program; if not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stringtable.h>
+#include <support/check.h>
+#include <support/support.h>
+
+static int
+do_test (void)
+{
+  /* Empty string table.  */
+  {
+    struct stringtable s = { 0, };
+    struct stringtable_finalized f;
+    stringtable_finalize (&s, &f);
+    TEST_COMPARE_STRING (f.strings, "");
+    TEST_COMPARE (f.size, 0);
+    free (f.strings);
+    stringtable_free (&s);
+  }
+
+  /* String table with one empty string.  */
+  {
+    struct stringtable s = { 0, };
+    struct stringtable_entry *e = stringtable_intern (&s, "");
+    TEST_COMPARE_STRING (e->string, "");
+    TEST_COMPARE (e->length, 0);
+    TEST_COMPARE (s.count, 1);
+
+    struct stringtable_finalized f;
+    stringtable_finalize (&s, &f);
+    TEST_COMPARE (e->offset, 0);
+    TEST_COMPARE_STRING (f.strings, "");
+    TEST_COMPARE (f.size, 1);
+    free (f.strings);
+    stringtable_free (&s);
+  }
+
+  /* String table with one non-empty string.  */
+  {
+    struct stringtable s = { 0, };
+    struct stringtable_entry *e = stringtable_intern (&s, "name");
+    TEST_COMPARE_STRING (e->string, "name");
+    TEST_COMPARE (e->length, 4);
+    TEST_COMPARE (s.count, 1);
+
+    struct stringtable_finalized f;
+    stringtable_finalize (&s, &f);
+    TEST_COMPARE (e->offset, 0);
+    TEST_COMPARE_STRING (f.strings, "name");
+    TEST_COMPARE (f.size, 5);
+    free (f.strings);
+    stringtable_free (&s);
+  }
+
+  /* Two strings, one is a prefix of the other.  Tail-merging can only
+     happen in one way in this case.  */
+  {
+    struct stringtable s = { 0, };
+    struct stringtable_entry *suffix = stringtable_intern (&s, "suffix");
+    TEST_COMPARE_STRING (suffix->string, "suffix");
+    TEST_COMPARE (suffix->length, 6);
+    TEST_COMPARE (s.count, 1);
+
+    struct stringtable_entry *prefix
+      = stringtable_intern (&s, "prefix-suffix");
+    TEST_COMPARE_STRING (prefix->string, "prefix-suffix");
+    TEST_COMPARE (prefix->length, strlen ("prefix-suffix"));
+    TEST_COMPARE (s.count, 2);
+
+    struct stringtable_finalized f;
+    stringtable_finalize (&s, &f);
+    TEST_COMPARE (prefix->offset, 0);
+    TEST_COMPARE (suffix->offset, strlen ("prefix-"));
+    TEST_COMPARE_STRING (f.strings, "prefix-suffix");
+    TEST_COMPARE (f.size, sizeof ("prefix-suffix"));
+    free (f.strings);
+    stringtable_free (&s);
+  }
+
+  /* String table with various shared prefixes.  Triggers hash
+     resizing.  */
+  {
+    enum { count = 1500 };
+    char *strings[2 * count];
+    struct stringtable_entry *entries[2 * count];
+    struct stringtable s = { 0, };
+    for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i)
+      {
+        strings[i] = xasprintf ("%d", i);
+        entries[i] = stringtable_intern (&s, strings[i]);
+        TEST_COMPARE (entries[i]->length, strlen (strings[i]));
+        TEST_COMPARE_STRING (entries[i]->string, strings[i]);
+        strings[i + count] = xasprintf ("prefix/%d", i);
+        entries[i + count] = stringtable_intern (&s, strings[i + count]);
+        TEST_COMPARE (entries[i + count]->length, strlen (strings[i + count]));
+        TEST_COMPARE_STRING (entries[i + count]->string, strings[i + count]);
+      }
+
+    struct stringtable_finalized f;
+    stringtable_finalize (&s, &f);
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < 2 * count; ++i)
+      {
+        TEST_COMPARE (entries[i]->length, strlen (strings[i]));
+        TEST_COMPARE_STRING (entries[i]->string, strings[i]);
+        TEST_COMPARE_STRING (f.strings + entries[i]->offset, strings[i]);
+        free (strings[i]);
+      }
+
+    free (f.strings);
+    stringtable_free (&s);
+  }
+
+  return 0;
+}
+
+#include <support/test-driver.c>
+
+/* Re-compile the string table implementation here.  It is not
+   possible to link against the actual build because it was built for
+   use in ldconfig.  */
+#define _(arg) arg
+#include "stringtable.c"
+#include "stringtable_free.c"
