LIFE_CYCLE-DIGEST(7SSL) OpenSSL LIFE_CYCLE-DIGEST(7SSL)
NAME
life_cycle-digest - The digest algorithm life-cycle
DESCRIPTION
All message digests (MDs) go through a number of stages in their life-
cycle:
start
This state represents the MD before it has been allocated. It is
the starting state for any life-cycle transitions.
newed
This state represents the MD after it has been allocated.
initialised
This state represents the MD when it is set up and capable of
processing input.
updated
This state represents the MD when it is set up and capable of
processing additional input or generating output.
finaled
This state represents the MD when it has generated output. For an
XOF digest, this state represents the MD when it has generated a
single-shot output.
squeezed
For an XOF digest, this state represents the MD when it has
generated output. It can be called multiple times to generate more
output. The output length is variable for each call.
freed
This state is entered when the MD is freed. It is the terminal
state for all life-cycle transitions.
State Transition Diagram
The usual life-cycle of a MD is illustrated:
+--------------------+
| start |
+--------------------+
|
EVP_MD_CTX_reset
| EVP_MD_CTX_new
+-------------------------------------------------+
v v
|
EVP_MD_CTX_reset + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - + EVP_MD_CTX_reset |
+-------------------> ' newed
' <--------------------+ |
| + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - + | |
| |
| |
| | EVP_DigestInit
| |
| v
| |
| EVP_DigestInit + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - + | |
+----+-------------------> ' initialised
' <+ EVP_DigestInit | |
| | + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - + | | |
| | | ^
| | |
| | | EVP_DigestUpdate |
EVP_DigestInit | | |
| | v |
| | |
| |
+---------------------------------------------+ | |
|
| +-------------------- |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| EVP_DigestUpdate |
| | | |
| +-------------------- |
| | | |
| | | updated
| | | |
| +-------------------> |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
| |
| | | |
+----+------------------------- |
| -+-------------------+----+ |
| |
+---------------------------------------------+ | |
| |
| | |
| | | |
| | | EVP_DigestSqueeze
+-------------------+ | | |
| | v |
| | |
| | EVP_DigestSqueeze
+---------------------------------------------+ |
| |
| | +-------------------- |
| | | |
| | | | squeezed
| | | |
| | +-------------------> |
| ---------------------+ | |
| |
+---------------------------------------------+
| |
| | |
| |
| |
+---------------------------------------+ | |
| |
| | |
| |
+---------------------------------------------+ EVP_DigestFinalXOF |
| |
| +------------------------- | finaled
| <--------------------+----+ |
|
+---------------------------------------------+ |
|
| EVP_DigestFinal ^ | |
| |
+---------------------------------+ | |
EVP_MD_CTX_free | |
| v
| |
|
+------------------+ EVP_MD_CTX_free | |
| |
freed | <--------------------+ |
|
+------------------+ |
|
|
+------------------------------------------------------+
Formal State Transitions
This section defines all of the legal state transitions. This is the
canonical list.
Function Call --------------------- Current State
-----------------------------------
start newed initialised updated
finaled squeezed freed
EVP_MD_CTX_new newed
EVP_DigestInit initialised initialised initialised
initialised initialised
EVP_DigestUpdate updated updated
EVP_DigestFinal finaled
EVP_DigestFinalXOF finaled
EVP_DigestSqueeze squeezed
squeezed
EVP_MD_CTX_free freed freed freed freed
freed
EVP_MD_CTX_reset newed newed newed
newed
EVP_MD_CTX_get_params newed initialised updated
EVP_MD_CTX_set_params newed initialised updated
EVP_MD_CTX_gettable_params newed initialised updated
EVP_MD_CTX_settable_params newed initialised updated
EVP_MD_CTX_copy_ex newed initialised updated
squeezed
NOTES
At some point the EVP layer will begin enforcing the transitions
described herein.
SEE ALSO
provider-digest(7), EVP_DigestInit(3)
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2021-2023 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved.
Licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (the "License"). You may not use
this file except in compliance with the License. You can obtain a copy
in the file LICENSE in the source distribution or at
<https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html>.
3.5.4 2025-09-30 LIFE_CYCLE-DIGEST(7SSL)
Generated by dwww version 1.16 on Tue Dec 16 04:59:46 CET 2025.