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