C magic to put, and then iterate, some symbols in an ELF custom section.

custom_elf_section.c

#include <stdio.h>

//
// Define a thing to store in sections
//
struct mything {
    const char* name;
    int num;
};

//
// Define several things to store in section "mysection"
//
static struct mything thing1 __attribute__((section("mysection"))) __attribute__((used)) = {
    .name = "thing1",
    .num = 1
};

static struct mything thing2 __attribute__((section("mysection"))) __attribute__((used)) = {
    .name = "thing2",
    .num = 2
};

static struct mything thing3 __attribute__((section("mysection"))) __attribute__((used)) = {
    .name = "thing3",
    .num = 3
};

static struct mything thing4 __attribute__((section("mysection"))) __attribute__((used)) = {
    .name = "thing4",
    .num = 4
};

static struct mything thing5 __attribute__((section("mysection"))) __attribute__((used)) = {
    .name = "thing5",
    .num = 5
};

//
// Reference section end and start
// This variables are magically created by the linker
//
extern struct mything __start_mysection;
extern struct mything __stop_mysection;

//
// Print all things
//
int main() {

    // Iterate over the section
    for(struct mything* iter = &__start_mysection; iter < &__stop_mysection; ++iter) {
        printf(
            "Found thing \"%s\" with number %d.\n",
            iter->name, iter->num
        );
    }
}

// Compile and execute me with:
//
//    $ c99 custom_elf_section.c -o custom_elf_section
//    $ ./custom_elf_section
//
// Found thing "thing1" with number 1.
// Found thing "thing2" with number 2.
// Found thing "thing3" with number 3.
// Found thing "thing4" with number 4.
// Found thing "thing5" with number 5.