java.lang.Object java.security.KeyPairGeneratorSpi java.security.KeyPairGenerator
public abstract class KeyPairGenerator
The KeyPairGenerator class is used to generate pairs of public and private keys. Key pair generators are constructed using the getInstance factory methods (static methods that return instances of a given class).
A Key pair generator for a particular algorithm creates a public/private key pair that can be used with this algorithm. It also associates algorithm-specific parameters with each of the generated keys.
There are two ways to generate a key pair: in an algorithm-independent manner, and in an algorithm-specific manner. The only difference between the two is the initialization of the object:
All key pair generators share the concepts of a keysize and a source of randomness. The keysize is interpreted differently for different algorithms (e.g., in the case of the DSA algorithm, the keysize corresponds to the length of the modulus). There is an initialize method in this KeyPairGenerator class that takes these two universally shared types of arguments. There is also one that takes just a keysize argument, and uses the SecureRandom implementation of the highest-priority installed provider as the source of randomness. (If none of the installed providers supply an implementation of SecureRandom, a system-provided source of randomness is used.)
Since no other parameters are specified when you call the above algorithm-independent initialize methods, it is up to the provider what to do about the algorithm-specific parameters (if any) to be associated with each of the keys.
If the algorithm is the DSA algorithm, and the keysize (modulus size) is 512, 768, or 1024, then the Sun provider uses a set of precomputed values for the p, q, and g parameters. If the modulus size is not one of the above values, the Sun provider creates a new set of parameters. Other providers might have precomputed parameter sets for more than just the three modulus sizes mentioned above. Still others might not have a list of precomputed parameters at all and instead always create new parameter sets.
For situations where a set of algorithm-specific parameters already exists (e.g., so-called community parameters in DSA), there are two initialize methods that have an AlgorithmParameterSpec argument. One also has a SecureRandom argument, while the the other uses the SecureRandom implementation of the highest-priority installed provider as the source of randomness. (If none of the installed providers supply an implementation of SecureRandom, a system-provided source of randomness is used.)
In case the client does not explicitly initialize the KeyPairGenerator (via a call to an initialize method), each provider must supply (and document) a default initialization. For example, the Sun provider uses a default modulus size (keysize) of 1024 bits.
Note that this class is abstract and extends from KeyPairGeneratorSpi for historical reasons. Application developers should only take notice of the methods defined in this KeyPairGenerator class; all the methods in the superclass are intended for cryptographic service providers who wish to supply their own implementations of key pair generators.
Constructor Summary | |
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protected |
KeyPairGenerator
(
String
algorithm) Creates a KeyPairGenerator object for the specified algorithm. |
Method Summary | |
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KeyPair |
generateKeyPair
() Generates a key pair. |
KeyPair |
genKeyPair
() Generates a key pair. |
String |
getAlgorithm
() Returns the standard name of the algorithm for this key pair generator. |
static KeyPairGenerator |
getInstance
(
String
algorithm) Returns a KeyPairGenerator object that generates public/private key pairs for the specified algorithm. |
static KeyPairGenerator |
getInstance
(
String
algorithm,
Provider
provider) Returns a KeyPairGenerator object that generates public/private key pairs for the specified algorithm. |
static KeyPairGenerator |
getInstance
(
String
algorithm,
String
provider) Returns a KeyPairGenerator object that generates public/private key pairs for the specified algorithm. |
Provider |
getProvider
() Returns the provider of this key pair generator object. |
void |
initialize
(
AlgorithmParameterSpec
params) Initializes the key pair generator using the specified parameter set and the SecureRandom implementation of the highest-priority installed provider as the source of randomness. |
void |
initialize
(
AlgorithmParameterSpec
params,
SecureRandom
random) Initializes the key pair generator with the given parameter set and source of randomness. |
void |
initialize
(int keysize) Initializes the key pair generator for a certain keysize using a default parameter set and the SecureRandom implementation of the highest-priority installed provider as the source of randomness. |
void |
initialize
(int keysize,
SecureRandom
random) Initializes the key pair generator for a certain keysize with the given source of randomness (and a default parameter set). |
Methods inherited from class java.lang. Object |
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clone , equals , finalize , getClass , hashCode , notify , notifyAll , toString , wait , wait , wait |
Constructor Detail |
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protected KeyPairGenerator(String algorithm)
Method Detail |
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public String getAlgorithm()
public static KeyPairGenerator getInstance(String algorithm) throws NoSuchAlgorithmException
This method traverses the list of registered security Providers, starting with the most preferred Provider. A new KeyPairGenerator object encapsulating the KeyPairGeneratorSpi implementation from the first Provider that supports the specified algorithm is returned.
Note that the list of registered providers may be retrieved via the Security.getProviders() method.
public static KeyPairGenerator getInstance(String algorithm, String provider) throws NoSuchAlgorithmException, NoSuchProviderException
A new KeyPairGenerator object encapsulating the KeyPairGeneratorSpi implementation from the specified provider is returned. The specified provider must be registered in the security provider list.
Note that the list of registered providers may be retrieved via the Security.getProviders() method.
public static KeyPairGenerator getInstance(String algorithm, Provider provider) throws NoSuchAlgorithmException
A new KeyPairGenerator object encapsulating the KeyPairGeneratorSpi implementation from the specified Provider object is returned. Note that the specified Provider object does not have to be registered in the provider list.
public final Provider getProvider()
public void initialize(int keysize)
public void initialize(int keysize, SecureRandom random)
public void initialize(AlgorithmParameterSpec params) throws InvalidAlgorithmParameterException
This concrete method has been added to this previously-defined abstract class. This method calls the KeyPairGeneratorSpi initialize method, passing it params and a source of randomness (obtained from the highest-priority installed provider or system-provided if none of the installed providers supply one). That initialize method always throws an UnsupportedOperationException if it is not overridden by the provider.
public void initialize(AlgorithmParameterSpec params, SecureRandom random) throws InvalidAlgorithmParameterException
This concrete method has been added to this previously-defined abstract class. This method calls the KeyPairGeneratorSpi initialize method, passing it params and random. That initialize method always throws an UnsupportedOperationException if it is not overridden by the provider.
public final KeyPair genKeyPair()
If this KeyPairGenerator has not been initialized explicitly, provider-specific defaults will be used for the size and other (algorithm-specific) values of the generated keys.
This will generate a new key pair every time it is called.
This method is functionally equivalent to generateKeyPair .
public KeyPair generateKeyPair()
If this KeyPairGenerator has not been initialized explicitly, provider-specific defaults will be used for the size and other (algorithm-specific) values of the generated keys.
This will generate a new key pair every time it is called.
This method is functionally equivalent to genKeyPair .