Generating .elf files with ARM toolchain

Hello.

I'm fairly new to embedded software development, and could use some clarification on how to generate .elf files from .c files.

I've recently downloaded the following toolchain installation:

developer.arm.com/.../gcc-arm-none-eabi-7-2017-q4-major-win32-sha2.exe

One of my confusions was the purpose for all of the .exe files in the main bin folder (I noticed there are several bin folders).  The folder, $TOOL_ROOT\7 2017-q4-major\bin contains 30-ish .exe files, such as,

arm-none-eabi-ar.exe

arm-none-eabi-gdb-py.exe

arm-none-eabi-gcc-7.2.1.exe

To do a basic compile of .c to .o or .elf, which ones do I need to know about?

The main task I'm trying to achieve with the tool chain is to compile .c to .elf, to load into a third-party SoC development tool (VLab by ASTC, if that helps).  The .c file contains code to program a Cortex M3, and the development tool I'm using loads .elf files.

Please note that I'm more of a chip designer than a software developer, so don't assume much knowledge about embedded design.

Thanks!