NAME

       Crypt::DSA::Key - DSA key

SYNOPSIS

           use Crypt::DSA::Key;
           my $key = Crypt::DSA::Key->new;

           $key->p($p);

DESCRIPTION

       Crypt::DSA::Key contains a DSA key, both the public and private portions. Subclasses of
       Crypt::DSA::Key implement read and write methods, such that you can store DSA keys on
       disk, and read them back into your application.

USAGE

       Any of the key attributes can be accessed through combination get/set methods. The key
       attributes are: p, q, g, priv_key, and pub_key. For example:

           $key->p($p);
           my $p2 = $key->p;

   $key = Crypt::DSA::Key->new(%arg)
       Creates a new (empty) key object. All of the attributes are initialized to 0.

       Alternately, if you provide the Filename parameter (see below), the key will be read in
       from disk. If you provide the Type parameter (mandatory if Filename is provided), be aware
       that your key will actually be blessed into a subclass of Crypt::DSA::Key. Specifically,
       it will be the class implementing the specific read functionality for that type, eg.
       Crypt::DSA::Key::PEM.

       Returns the key on success, "undef" otherwise. (See Password for one reason why new might
       return "undef").

       %arg can contain:

       •   Type

           The type of file where the key is stored. Currently the only option is PEM, which
           indicates a PEM file (optionally encrypted, ASN.1-encoded object). Support for
           reading/writing PEM files comes from Convert::PEM; if you don't have this module
           installed, the new method will die.

           This argument is mandatory, if you're either reading the file from disk (ie. you
           provide a Filename argument) or you've specified the Content argument.

       •   Filename

           The location of the file from which you'd like to read the key.  Requires a Type
           argument so the decoder knows what type of file it is.  You can't specify Content and
           Filename at the same time.

       •   Content

           The serialized version of the key.  Requires a Type argument so the decoder knows how
           to decode it.  You can't specify Content and Filename at the same time.

       •   Password

           If your key file is encrypted, you'll need to supply a passphrase to decrypt it. You
           can do that here.

           If your passphrase is incorrect, new will return "undef".

   $key->write(%arg)
       Writes a key (optionally) to disk, using a format that you define with the Type parameter.

       If your $key object has a defined priv_key (private key portion), the key will be written
       as a DSA private key object; otherwise, it will be written out as a public key. Note that
       not all serialization mechanisms can produce public keys in this version--currently, only
       PEM public keys are supported.

       %arg can include:

       •   Type

           The type of file format that you wish to write. PEM is one example (in fact,
           currently, it's the only example).

           This argument is mandatory, unless your $key object is already blessed into a subclass
           (eg. Crypt::DSA::Key::PEM), and you wish to write the file using the same subclass.

       •   Filename

           The location of the file on disk where you want the key file to be written.

       •   Password

           If you want the key file to be encrypted, provide this argument, and the ASN.1-encoded
           string will be encrypted using the passphrase as a key.

   $key->size
       Returns the size of the key, in bits. This is actually the number of bits in the large
       prime p.

AUTHOR & COPYRIGHTS

       Please see the Crypt::DSA manpage for author, copyright, and license information.