Module java.base
Package java.security

# Interface PublicKey

All Superinterfaces:
  `Key`, `Serializable`

All Known Subinterfaces:
  `DHPublicKey`, `DSAPublicKey`, `ECPublicKey`, `EdECPublicKey`, `RSAPublicKey`, `XECPublicKey`

public interface PublicKey extends Key

A public key. This interface contains no methods or constants. It merely serves to group (and provide type safety for) all public key interfaces. Note: The specialized public key interfaces extend this interface. See, for example, the DSAPublicKey interface in `java.security.interfaces`.

Since:
  1.1
See Also:
  - `Key`
  - `PrivateKey`
  - `Certificate`
  - `Signature.initVerify(java.security.PublicKey)`
  - `DSAPublicKey`
  - `RSAPublicKey`

## Field Summary

Fields
Modifier and Type
Field
Description
`static final long`
`serialVersionUID`
Deprecated.
A `serialVersionUID` field in an interface is ineffectual.

## Method Summary

### Methods declared in interface java.security.Key

`getAlgorithm, getEncoded, getFormat`

## Field Details

### serialVersionUID

@Deprecated static final long serialVersionUID
Deprecated.
A `serialVersionUID` field in an interface is ineffectual. Do not use; no replacement.
The class fingerprint that is set to indicate serialization compatibility with a previous version of the class.

See Also:
  - Constant Field Values