Zydis — fast x86/x86-64 disassembly library
Zydis (zyantific/zydis) is a fast x86/x86-64 disassembly library. Release v4.1.1 (2025-02-16 UTC) was still the latest non-prerelease on 2026-10-24. License is MIT. Embed it in authorized tooling — it is not a beginner GUI.
Snapshot
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| License | MIT |
| Latest checked | v4.1.1 (2025-02-16 UTC) |
| Job | High-performance x86/x86-64 instruction decode |
| Stars (order of magnitude) | ~4.4k on GitHub (counts change daily) |
| Peer | Capstone for multi-arch coverage |
When Zydis fits
- Your pipeline only cares about x86/x86-64 and needs speed.
- You are extending an open-source tool that already vendors Zydis.
- You need a small dependency footprint compared with a full RE suite.
Legal note
Decoding instructions does not authorize analyzing arbitrary third-party software. Keep samples inside policy.
- Choose Zydis for fast x86/x64 library decode.
- Choose Capstone when you need many architectures from one API.
- Choose Ghidra/Cutter when you need interactive decompilation.
For legal, authorized and educational use only.
FAQ
What is Zydis?
Zydis is a fast, lightweight x86 and x86-64 disassembler (and related encode helpers) designed to be embedded in other tools.
Which version is cited?
v4.1.1 published 2025-02-16 UTC on zyantific/zydis Releases (latest non-prerelease checked 2026-10-24).
Is Zydis open source?
Yes. GitHub reports MIT for zyantific/zydis (checked 2026-10-24).
Capstone or Zydis?
Capstone covers many architectures; Zydis focuses on high-performance x86/x86-64. Pick based on ISA coverage vs decode speed needs.
Does Zydis replace Ghidra?
No. It is a library, not a decompiler suite. Use Ghidra/Cutter for interactive RE.