PROVIDER-OBJECT(7SSL) OpenSSL PROVIDER-OBJECT(7SSL)
NAME
provider-object - A specification for a provider-native object
abstraction
SYNOPSIS
#include <openssl/core_object.h>
#include <openssl/core_names.h>
DESCRIPTION
The provider-native object abstraction is a set of OSSL_PARAM(3) keys
and values that can be used to pass provider-native objects to OpenSSL
library code or between different provider operation implementations
with the help of OpenSSL library code.
The intention is that certain provider-native operations can pass any
sort of object that belong with other operations, or with OpenSSL
library code.
An object may be passed in the following manners:
1. By value
This means that the object data is passed as an octet string or an
UTF8 string, which can be handled in diverse ways by other provided
implementations. The encoding of the object depends on the context
it's used in; for example, OSSL_DECODER(3) allows multiple
encodings, depending on existing decoders. If central OpenSSL
library functionality is to handle the data directly, it must be
encoded in DER for all object types except for OSSL_OBJECT_NAME (see
"Parameter reference" below), where it's assumed to a plain UTF8
string.
2. By reference
This means that the object data isn't passed directly, an object
reference is passed instead. It's an octet string that only the
correct provider understands correctly.
Objects by value can be used by anything that handles DER encoded
objects.
Objects by reference need a higher level of cooperation from the
implementation where the object originated (let's call it X) and its
target implementation (let's call it Y):
1. An object loading function in the target implementation
The target implementation (Y) may have a function that can take an
object reference. This can only be used if the target
implementation is from the same provider as the one originating the
object abstraction in question (X).
The exact target implementation to use is determined from the object
type and possibly the object data type. For example, when the
OpenSSL library receives an object abstraction with the object type
OSSL_OBJECT_PKEY, it will fetch a provider-keymgmt(7) using the
object data type as its key type (the second argument in
EVP_KEYMGMT_fetch(3)).
2. An object exporter in the originating implementation
The originating implementation (X) may have an exporter function.
This exporter function can be used to export the object in
OSSL_PARAM(3) form, that can then be imported by the target
implementation's imported function.
This can be used when it's not possible to fetch the target
implementation (Y) from the same provider.
Parameter reference
A provider-native object abstraction is an OSSL_PARAM(3) with a
selection of the following parameters:
"data" (OSSL_OBJECT_PARAM_DATA) <octet string> or <UTF8 string>
The object data passed by value.
"reference" (OSSL_OBJECT_PARAM_REFERENCE) <octet string>
The object data passed by reference.
"type" (OSSL_OBJECT_PARAM_TYPE) <integer>
The object type, a number that may have any of the following values
(all defined in <openssl/core_object.h>):
OSSL_OBJECT_NAME
The object data may only be passed by value, and should be a
UTF8 string.
This is useful for provider-storemgmt(7) when a URI load results
in new URIs.
OSSL_OBJECT_PKEY
The object data is suitable as provider-native EVP_PKEY key
data. The object data may be passed by value or passed by
reference.
OSSL_OBJECT_CERT
The object data is suitable as X509 data. The object data for
this object type can only be passed by value, and should be an
octet string.
Since there's no provider-native X.509 object, OpenSSL libraries
that receive this object abstraction are expected to convert the
data to a X509 object with d2i_X509().
OSSL_OBJECT_CRL
The object data is suitable as X509_CRL data. The object data
can only be passed by value, and should be an octet string.
Since there's no provider-native X.509 CRL object, OpenSSL
libraries that receive this object abstraction are expected to
convert the data to a X509_CRL object with d2i_X509_CRL().
"data-type" (OSSL_OBJECT_PARAM_DATA_TYPE) <UTF8 string>
The specific type of the object content. Legitimate values depend
on the object type; if it is OSSL_OBJECT_PKEY, the data type is
expected to be a key type suitable for fetching a
provider-keymgmt(7) that can handle the data.
"data-structure" (OSSL_OBJECT_PARAM_DATA_STRUCTURE) <UTF8 string>
The outermost structure of the object content. Legitimate values
depend on the object type.
"desc" (OSSL_OBJECT_PARAM_DESC) <UTF8 string>
A human readable text that describes extra details on the object.
When a provider-native object abstraction is used, it must contain
object data in at least one form (object data passed by value, i.e. the
"data" item, or object data passed by reference, i.e. the "reference"
item). Both may be present at once, in which case the OpenSSL library
code that receives this will use the most optimal variant.
For objects with the object type OSSL_OBJECT_NAME, that object type must
be given.
SEE ALSO
provider(7), OSSL_DECODER(3)
HISTORY
The concept of providers and everything surrounding them was introduced
in OpenSSL 3.0.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2020-2022 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 PROVIDER-OBJECT(7SSL)
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