as: Protected

 
 7.73 '.protected NAMES'
 =======================
 
 This is one of the ELF visibility directives.  The other two are
 '.hidden' (SeeHidden) and '.internal' (SeeInternal).
 
    This directive overrides the named symbols default visibility (which
 is set by their binding: local, global or weak).  The directive sets the
 visibility to 'protected' which means that any references to the symbols
 from within the components that defines them must be resolved to the
 definition in that component, even if a definition in another component
 would normally preempt this.