Add examples to key terminology section

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Paul Schaub 2023-09-18 11:43:13 +02:00
parent eeecce1286
commit 20ffb8e53b
Signed by: vanitasvitae
GPG key ID: 62BEE9264BF17311

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@ -40,9 +40,10 @@ In the OpenPGP space, the term "key" has historically been used for three
distinct concepts, at three layers, all related to each other: distinct concepts, at three layers, all related to each other:
- (Bare) "cryptographic keys" (without additional metadata). - (Bare) "cryptographic keys" (without additional metadata).
Those might be the secret and/or public parameters that form a key, e.g. in case of an RSA secret key the exponent `d` along with the prime numbers `p` and `q`.
- OpenPGP *component keys*: "OpenPGP primary keys" and "OpenPGP subkeys". - OpenPGP *component keys*: "OpenPGP primary keys" and "OpenPGP subkeys".
Those are building blocks of OpenPGP certificates, Those are building blocks of OpenPGP certificates,
they consist of a (bare) cryptographic keypair, plus metadata. they consist of a (bare) cryptographic keypair, plus some invariant metadata (e.g. key creation time).
- "OpenPGP key" (or "OpenPGP certificate"): - "OpenPGP key" (or "OpenPGP certificate"):
These consist of a number of component keys plus additional elements, These consist of a number of component keys plus additional elements,
such as identity information. such as identity information.