OpenSSL/EC

The OpenSSL EC library provides an extensive set of functions for performing operations on elliptic curves over finite fields. In general an elliptic curve is one with an equation of the form:

y^2 = x^3 + ax + b

An EC_GROUP structure is used to represent the definition of an elliptic curve. Points on a curve are stored using an EC_POINT structure. An EC_KEY is used to hold a private/public key pair, where a private key is simply a BIGNUM and a public key is a point on a curve (represented by an EC_POINT).

The library contains a number of alternative implementations of the different functions. Each implementation is optimised for different scenarios. No matter which implementation is being used, the interface remains the same. The library handles calling the correct implementation when an interface function is invoked. An implementation is represented by an EC_METHOD structure.

For the creation and destruction of EC_GROUP objects see EC_GROUP_new. For functions for manipulating EC_GROUP objects see EC_GROUP_copy.

Functions for creating, destroying and manipulating EC_POINT objects are explained on the EC_POINT_new page, whilst functions for performing mathematical operations and tests on EC_POINTs are covered in EC_POINT_add.

For working with private and public keys refer to EC_KEY_new. Implementations are covered in EC_GFp_simple_method.

For information on encoding and decoding curve parameters to and from ASN1 see d2i_ECPKParameters.