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Heiko Schaefer 2023-11-25 18:14:45 +01:00
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book/source/04-certificates.md
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@ -10,6 +10,14 @@ OpenPGP fundamentally hinges on the concept of "OpenPGP certificates," also know
An OpenPGP certificate, by definition, does not contain private key material.
Fundamentally, the effective management of certificates and a thorough grasp of their authentication and trust models are crucial for proficient OpenPGP usage. Although this document offers just a brief overview of these aspects, they form a fundamental part of the broader OpenPGP framework and warrant further study.
- For an in-depth exploration of OpenPGP's private key material, refer to {ref}`private_key_chapter`. This chapter provides essential insights into private key management and security practices.
- The bindings that link the components of a certificate are comprehensively discussed in {ref}`component_signatures_chapter`, offering a deeper understanding of certificate structure and integrity.
- For a detailed analysis of the internal (packet) structure of certificates and keys, our chapter {ref}`zoom_certificates` can serve as an invaluable resource.
## Terminology: Understanding "keys"
The term "(cryptographic) keys" is central to grasping the concept of OpenPGP certificates. However, it can refer to different entities, making it a potentially confusing term. Let's clarify those differences.
@ -28,14 +36,6 @@ In OpenPGP, the term "key" may refer to three distinct layers, each serving a un
The following section will delve into the OpenPGP-specific layers (2 and 3) to provide a clearer understanding of their roles within OpenPGP certificates.
Fundamentally, the effective management of certificates and a thorough grasp of their authentication and trust models are crucial for proficient OpenPGP usage. Although this document offers just a brief overview of these aspects, they form a fundamental part of the broader OpenPGP framework and warrant further study.
– For an in-depth exploration of OpenPGP's private key material, refer to {ref}`private_key_chapter`. This chapter provides essential insights into key management and security practices.
– The bindings that unify the components of a certificate are comprehensively discussed in {ref}`component_signatures_chapter`, offering a deeper understanding of certificate structure and integrity.
– For a detailed analysis of the internal (packet) structure of certificates and keys, our chapter {ref}`zoom_certificates` can serve as an invaluable resource.
## Structure of OpenPGP certificates
An OpenPGP certificate (or "OpenPGP key") is a collection of an arbitrary number of elements[^packets]: