openssl/doc/crypto/EC_GROUP_new.pod

=pod

=head1 NAME

EC_GROUP_new, EC_GROUP_free, EC_GROUP_clear_free, EC_GROUP_new_curve_GFp, EC_GROUP_new_curve_GF2m, EC_GROUP_new_by_curve_name, EC_GROUP_set_curve_GFp, EC_GROUP_get_curve_GFp, EC_GROUP_set_curve_GF2m, EC_GROUP_get_curve_GF2m, EC_get_builtin_curves - Functions for creating and destroying B<EC_GROUP> objects.

=head1 SYNOPSIS

 #include <openssl/ec.h>
 #include <openssl/bn.h>

 EC_GROUP *EC_GROUP_new(const EC_METHOD *meth);
 void EC_GROUP_free(EC_GROUP *group);
 void EC_GROUP_clear_free(EC_GROUP *group);

 EC_GROUP *EC_GROUP_new_curve_GFp(const BIGNUM *p, const BIGNUM *a, const BIGNUM *b, BN_CTX *ctx);
 EC_GROUP *EC_GROUP_new_curve_GF2m(const BIGNUM *p, const BIGNUM *a, const BIGNUM *b, BN_CTX *ctx);
 EC_GROUP *EC_GROUP_new_by_curve_name(int nid);

 int EC_GROUP_set_curve_GFp(EC_GROUP *group, const BIGNUM *p, const BIGNUM *a, const BIGNUM *b, BN_CTX *ctx);
 int EC_GROUP_get_curve_GFp(const EC_GROUP *group, BIGNUM *p, BIGNUM *a, BIGNUM *b, BN_CTX *ctx);
 int EC_GROUP_set_curve_GF2m(EC_GROUP *group, const BIGNUM *p, const BIGNUM *a, const BIGNUM *b, BN_CTX *ctx);
 int EC_GROUP_get_curve_GF2m(const EC_GROUP *group, BIGNUM *p, BIGNUM *a, BIGNUM *b, BN_CTX *ctx);

 size_t EC_get_builtin_curves(EC_builtin_curve *r, size_t nitems);

=head1 DESCRIPTION

Within the library there are two forms of elliptic curve that are of interest. The first form is those defined over the
prime field Fp. The elements of Fp are the integers 0 to p-1, where p is a prime number. This gives us a revised
elliptic curve equation as follows:

y^2 mod p = x^3 +ax + b mod p

The second form is those defined over a binary field F2^m where the elements of the field are integers of length at
most m bits. For this form the elliptic curve equation is modified to:

y^2 + xy = x^3 + ax^2 + b (where b != 0)

Operations in a binary field are performed relative to an B<irreducible polynomial>. All such curves with OpenSSL
use a trinomial or a pentanomial for this parameter.

A new curve can be constructed by calling EC_GROUP_new, using the implementation provided by B<meth> (see
L<EC_GFp_simple_method(3)|EC_GFp_simple_method(3)>). It is then necessary to call either EC_GROUP_set_curve_GFp or
EC_GROUP_set_curve_GF2m as appropriate to create a curve defined over Fp or over F2^m respectively. 

EC_GROUP_set_curve_GFp sets the curve parameters B<p>, B<a> and B<b> for a curve over Fp stored in B<group>.
EC_group_get_curve_GFp obtains the previously set curve parameters.

EC_GROUP_set_curve_GF2m sets the equivalent curve parameters for a curve over F2^m. In this case B<p> represents
the irreducible polybnomial - each bit represents a term in the polynomial. Therefore there will either be three
or five bits set dependant on whether the polynomial is a trinomial or a pentanomial.
EC_group_get_curve_GF2m obtains the previously set curve parameters.

The functions EC_GROUP_new_curve_GFp and EC_GROUP_new_curve_GF2m are shortcuts for calling EC_GROUP_new and the
appropriate EC_group_set_curve function. An appropriate default implementation method will be used.

Whilst the library can be used to create any curve using the functions described above, there are also a number of
predefined curves that are available. In order to obtain a list of all of the predefined curves, call the function
EC_get_builtin_curves. The parameter B<r> should be an array of EC_builtin_curve structures of size B<nitems>. The function
will populate the B<r> array with information about the builtin curves. If B<nitems> is less than the total number of
curves available, then the first B<nitems> curves will be returned. Otherwise the total number of curves will be
provided. The return value is the total number of curves available (whether that number has been populated in B<r> or
not). Passing a NULL B<r>, or setting B<nitems> to 0 will do nothing other than return the total number of curves available.
The EC_builtin_curve structure is defined as follows:

 typedef struct { 
	int nid;
	const char *comment;
	} EC_builtin_curve;

Each EC_builtin_curve item has a unique integer id (B<nid>), and a human readable comment string describing the curve.

In order to construct a builtin curve use the function EC_GROUP_new_by_curve_name and provide the B<nid> of the curve to
be constructed.

EC_GROUP_free frees the memory associated with the EC_GROUP.

EC_GROUP_clear_free destroys any sensitive data held within the EC_GROUP and then frees its memory.

=head1 RETURN VALUES

All EC_GROUP_new* functions return a pointer to the newly constructed group, or NULL on error.

EC_get_builtin_curves returns the number of builtin curves that are available.

EC_GROUP_set_curve_GFp, EC_GROUP_get_curve_GFp, EC_GROUP_set_curve_GF2m, EC_GROUP_get_curve_GF2m return 1 on success or 0 on error.

=head1 SEE ALSO

L<crypto(3)|crypto(3)>, L<ec(3)|ec(3)>, L<EC_GROUP_copy(3)|EC_GROUP_copy(3)>,
L<EC_POINT_new(3)|EC_POINT_new(3)>, L<EC_POINT_add(3)|EC_POINT_add(3)>, L<EC_KEY_new(3)|EC_KEY_new(3)>,
L<EC_GFp_simple_method(3)|EC_GFp_simple_method(3)>, L<d2i_ECPKParameters(3)|d2i_ECPKParameters(3)>

=cut