Module java.base

Package java.security

Class AlgorithmParameterGenerator

java.lang.Object

java.security.AlgorithmParameterGenerator

public class AlgorithmParameterGenerator
extends Object

The AlgorithmParameterGenerator class is used to generate a set of parameters to be used with a certain algorithm. Parameter generators are constructed using the getInstance factory methods (static methods that return instances of a given class).

The object that will generate the parameters can be initialized in two different ways: in an algorithm-independent manner, or in an algorithm-specific manner:

• The algorithm-independent approach uses the fact that all parameter generators share the concept of a "size" and a source of randomness. The measure of size is universally shared by all algorithm parameters, though it is interpreted differently for different algorithms. For example, in the case of parameters for the DSA algorithm, "size" corresponds to the size of the prime modulus (in bits). When using this approach, algorithm-specific parameter generation values - if any - default to some standard values, unless they can be derived from the specified size.
• The other approach initializes a parameter generator object using algorithm-specific semantics, which are represented by a set of algorithm-specific parameter generation values. To generate Diffie-Hellman system parameters, for example, the parameter generation values usually consist of the size of the prime modulus and the size of the random exponent, both specified in number of bits.

In case the client does not explicitly initialize the AlgorithmParameterGenerator (via a call to an init method), each provider must supply (and document) a default initialization. See the Keysize Restriction sections of the JDK Providers document for information on the AlgorithmParameterGenerator defaults used by JDK providers. However, note that defaults may vary across different providers. Additionally, the default value for a provider may change in a future version. Therefore, it is recommended to explicitly initialize the AlgorithmParameterGenerator instead of relying on provider-specific defaults.

Every implementation of the Java platform is required to support the following standard AlgorithmParameterGenerator algorithms and keysizes in parentheses:

• DiffieHellman (1024, 2048)
• DSA (1024, 2048)

These algorithms are described in the AlgorithmParameterGenerator section of the Java Security Standard Algorithm Names Specification. Consult the release documentation for your implementation to see if any other algorithms are supported.

Since:

1.2

See Also:

AlgorithmParameters, AlgorithmParameterSpec

Constructor Summary

Constructors

Modifier	Constructor	Description
protected	AlgorithmParameterGenerator(AlgorithmParameterGeneratorSpi paramGenSpi, Provider provider, String algorithm)	Creates an AlgorithmParameterGenerator object.

Method Summary

Modifier and Type	Method	Description
AlgorithmParameters	generateParameters()	Generates the parameters.
String	getAlgorithm()	Returns the standard name of the algorithm this parameter generator is associated with.
static AlgorithmParameterGenerator	getInstance(String algorithm)	Returns an AlgorithmParameterGenerator object for generating a set of parameters to be used with the specified algorithm.
static AlgorithmParameterGenerator	getInstance(String algorithm, String provider)	Returns an AlgorithmParameterGenerator object for generating a set of parameters to be used with the specified algorithm.
static AlgorithmParameterGenerator	getInstance(String algorithm, Provider provider)	Returns an AlgorithmParameterGenerator object for generating a set of parameters to be used with the specified algorithm.
Provider	getProvider()	Returns the provider of this algorithm parameter generator object.
void	init(int size)	Initializes this parameter generator for a certain size.
void	init(int size, SecureRandom random)	Initializes this parameter generator for a certain size and source of randomness.
void	init(AlgorithmParameterSpec genParamSpec)	Initializes this parameter generator with a set of algorithm-specific parameter generation values.
void	init(AlgorithmParameterSpec genParamSpec, SecureRandom random)	Initializes this parameter generator with a set of algorithm-specific parameter generation values.

Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait

Constructor Detail

AlgorithmParameterGenerator

protected AlgorithmParameterGenerator(AlgorithmParameterGeneratorSpi paramGenSpi,
                                      Provider provider,
                                      String algorithm)

Creates an AlgorithmParameterGenerator object.

Parameters:

paramGenSpi - the delegate

provider - the provider

algorithm - the algorithm

Method Detail

getAlgorithm

public final String getAlgorithm()

Returns the standard name of the algorithm this parameter generator is associated with.

Returns:

the string name of the algorithm.

getInstance

public static AlgorithmParameterGenerator getInstance(String algorithm)
                                               throws NoSuchAlgorithmException

Returns an AlgorithmParameterGenerator object for generating a set of parameters to be used with the specified algorithm.

This method traverses the list of registered security Providers, starting with the most preferred Provider. A new AlgorithmParameterGenerator object encapsulating the AlgorithmParameterGeneratorSpi 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.

Implementation Note:

The JDK Reference Implementation additionally uses the jdk.security.provider.preferred Security property to determine the preferred provider order for the specified algorithm. This may be different than the order of providers returned by Security.getProviders().

Parameters:

algorithm - the name of the algorithm this parameter generator is associated with. See the AlgorithmParameterGenerator section in the Java Security Standard Algorithm Names Specification for information about standard algorithm names.

Returns:

the new AlgorithmParameterGenerator object

Throws:

NoSuchAlgorithmException - if no Provider supports an AlgorithmParameterGeneratorSpi implementation for the specified algorithm

NullPointerException - if algorithm is null

See Also:

Provider

getInstance

public static AlgorithmParameterGenerator getInstance(String algorithm,
                                                      String provider)
                                               throws NoSuchAlgorithmException,