MessageDigest (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.security.MessageDigest class
Date: 2016-12-09

compact1, compact2, compact3
java.security

## Class MessageDigest

- java.lang.Object
- - java.security.MessageDigestSpi
  - - java.security.MessageDigest

-     public abstract class MessageDigest
      extends MessageDigestSpi

  This MessageDigest class provides applications the functionality of a message digest algorithm, such as SHA-1 or SHA-256. Message digests are secure one-way hash functions that take arbitrary-sized data and output a fixed-length hash value.

  A MessageDigest object starts out initialized. The data is processed through it using the `update` methods. At any point `reset` can be called to reset the digest. Once all the data to be updated has been updated, one of the `digest` methods should be called to complete the hash computation.

  The `digest` method can be called once for a given number of updates. After `digest` has been called, the MessageDigest object is reset to its initialized state.

  Implementations are free to implement the Cloneable interface. Client applications can test cloneability by attempting cloning and catching the CloneNotSupportedException:

       MessageDigest md = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA");

       try {
           md.update(toChapter1);
           MessageDigest tc1 = md.clone();
           byte[] toChapter1Digest = tc1.digest();
           md.update(toChapter2);
           ...etc.
       } catch (CloneNotSupportedException cnse) {
           throw new DigestException("couldn't make digest of partial content");
       }

  Note that if a given implementation is not cloneable, it is still possible to compute intermediate digests by instantiating several instances, if the number of digests is known in advance.

  Note that this class is abstract and extends from `MessageDigestSpi` for historical reasons. Application developers should only take notice of the methods defined in this `MessageDigest` class; all the methods in the superclass are intended for cryptographic service providers who wish to supply their own implementations of message digest algorithms.

  Every implementation of the Java platform is required to support the following standard `MessageDigest` algorithms:

  - `MD5`
  - `SHA-1`
  - `SHA-256`
  These algorithms are described in the MessageDigest section of the Java Cryptography Architecture Standard Algorithm Name Documentation. Consult the release documentation for your implementation to see if any other algorithms are supported.
  See Also:
    `DigestInputStream`, `DigestOutputStream`

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier | Constructor and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected` | `MessageDigest(String algorithm)` Creates a message digest with the specified algorithm name.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Static Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `Object` | `clone()` Returns a clone if the implementation is cloneable.
    `byte[]` | `digest()` Completes the hash computation by performing final operations such as padding.
    `byte[]` | `digest(byte[] input)` Performs a final update on the digest using the specified array of bytes, then completes the digest computation.
    `int` | `digest(byte[] buf, int offset, int len)` Completes the hash computation by performing final operations such as padding.
    `String` | `getAlgorithm()` Returns a string that identifies the algorithm, independent of implementation details.
    `int` | `getDigestLength()` Returns the length of the digest in bytes, or 0 if this operation is not supported by the provider and the implementation is not cloneable.
    `static MessageDigest` | `getInstance(String algorithm)` Returns a MessageDigest object that implements the specified digest algorithm.
    `static MessageDigest` | `getInstance(String algorithm, Provider provider)` Returns a MessageDigest object that implements the specified digest algorithm.
    `static MessageDigest` | `getInstance(String algorithm, String provider)` Returns a MessageDigest object that implements the specified digest algorithm.
    `Provider` | `getProvider()` Returns the provider of this message digest object.
    `static boolean` | `isEqual(byte[] digesta, byte[] digestb)` Compares two digests for equality.
    `void` | `reset()` Resets the digest for further use.
    `String` | `toString()` Returns a string representation of this message digest object.
    `void` | `update(byte input)` Updates the digest using the specified byte.
    `void` | `update(byte[] input)` Updates the digest using the specified array of bytes.
    `void` | `update(byte[] input, int offset, int len)` Updates the digest using the specified array of bytes, starting at the specified offset.
    `void` | `update(ByteBuffer input)` Update the digest using the specified ByteBuffer.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.security.MessageDigestSpi

      `engineDigest, engineDigest, engineGetDigestLength, engineReset, engineUpdate, engineUpdate, engineUpdate`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### MessageDigest

          protected MessageDigest(String algorithm)

      Creates a message digest with the specified algorithm name.
      Parameters:
        `algorithm` - the standard name of the digest algorithm. See the MessageDigest section in the Java Cryptography Architecture Standard Algorithm Name Documentation for information about standard algorithm names.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getInstance

          public static MessageDigest getInstance(String algorithm)
                                           throws NoSuchAlgorithmException

      Returns a MessageDigest object that implements the specified digest algorithm.

      This method traverses the list of registered security Providers, starting with the most preferred Provider. A new MessageDigest object encapsulating the MessageDigestSpi implementation from the first Provider that supports the specified algorithm is returned.

      Note that the list of registered providers may be retrieved via the `Security.getProviders()` method.

      Parameters:
        `algorithm` - the name of the algorithm requested. See the MessageDigest section in the Java Cryptography Architecture Standard Algorithm Name Documentation for information about standard algorithm names.
      Returns:
        a Message Digest object that implements the specified algorithm.
      Throws:
        `NoSuchAlgorithmException` - if no Provider supports a MessageDigestSpi implementation for the specified algorithm.
      See Also:
        `Provider`

    - #### getInstance

          public static MessageDigest getInstance(String algorithm,
                                                  String provider)
                                           throws NoSuchAlgorithmException,
                                                  NoSuchProviderException

      Returns a MessageDigest object that implements the specified digest algorithm.

      A new MessageDigest object encapsulating the MessageDigestSpi implementation from the specified provider is returned. The specified provider must be registered in the security provider list.

      Note that the list of registered providers may be retrieved via the `Security.getProviders()` method.

      Parameters:
        `algorithm` - the name of the algorithm requested. See the MessageDigest section in the Java Cryptography Architecture Standard Algorithm Name Documentation for information about standard algorithm names.
        `provider` - the name of the provider.
      Returns:
        a MessageDigest object that implements the specified algorithm.
      Throws:
        `NoSuchAlgorithmException` - if a MessageDigestSpi implementation for the specified algorithm is not available from the specified provider.
        `NoSuchProviderException` - if the specified provider is not registered in the security provider list.
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the provider name is null or empty.
      See Also:
        `Provider`

    - #### getInstance

          public static MessageDigest getInstance(String algorithm,
                                                  Provider provider)
                                           throws NoSuchAlgorithmException

      Returns a MessageDigest object that implements the specified digest algorithm.

      A new MessageDigest object encapsulating the MessageDigestSpi implementation from the specified Provider object is returned. Note that the specified Provider object does not have to be registered in the provider list.

      Parameters:
        `algorithm` - the name of the algorithm requested. See the MessageDigest section in the Java Cryptography Architecture Standard Algorithm Name Documentation for information about standard algorithm names.
        `provider` - the provider.
      Returns:
        a MessageDigest object that implements the specified algorithm.
      Throws:
        `NoSuchAlgorithmException` - if a MessageDigestSpi implementation for the specified algorithm is not available from the specified Provider object.
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the specified provider is null.
      Since:
        1.4
      See Also:
        `Provider`

    - #### getProvider

          public final Provider getProvider()

      Returns the provider of this message digest object.
      Returns:
        the provider of this message digest object

    - #### update

          public void update(byte input)

      Updates the digest using the specified byte.
      Parameters:
        `input` - the byte with which to update the digest.

    - #### update

          public void update(byte[] input,
                             int offset,
                             int len)

      Updates the digest using the specified array of bytes, starting at the specified offset.
      Parameters:
        `input` - the array of bytes.
        `offset` - the offset to start from in the array of bytes.
        `len` - the number of bytes to use, starting at `offset`.

    - #### update

          public void update(byte[] input)

      Updates the digest using the specified array of bytes.
      Parameters:
        `input` - the array of bytes.

    - #### update

          public final void update(ByteBuffer input)

      Update the digest using the specified ByteBuffer. The digest is updated using the `input.remaining()` bytes starting at `input.position()`. Upon return, the buffer's position will be equal to its limit; its limit will not have changed.
      Parameters:
        `input` - the ByteBuffer
      Since:
        1.5

    - #### digest

          public byte[] digest()

      Completes the hash computation by performing final operations such as padding. The digest is reset after this call is made.
      Returns:
        the array of bytes for the resulting hash value.

    - #### digest

          public int digest(byte[] buf,
                            int offset,
                            int len)
                     throws DigestException

      Completes the hash computation by performing final operations such as padding. The digest is reset after this call is made.
      Parameters:
        `buf` - output buffer for the computed digest
        `offset` - offset into the output buffer to begin storing the digest
        `len` - number of bytes within buf allotted for the digest
      Returns:
        the number of bytes placed into `buf`
      Throws:
        `DigestException` - if an error occurs.

    - #### digest

          public byte[] digest(byte[] input)

      Performs a final update on the digest using the specified array of bytes, then completes the digest computation. That is, this method first calls `update(input)`, passing the input array to the `update` method, then calls `digest()`.
      Parameters:
        `input` - the input to be updated before the digest is completed.
      Returns:
        the array of bytes for the resulting hash value.

    - #### toString

          public String toString()

      Returns a string representation of this message digest object.
      Overrides:
        `toString` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        a string representation of the object.

    - #### isEqual

          public static boolean isEqual(byte[] digesta,
                                        byte[] digestb)

      Compares two digests for equality. Does a simple byte compare.
      Parameters:
        `digesta` - one of the digests to compare.
        `digestb` - the other digest to compare.
      Returns:
        true if the digests are equal, false otherwise.

    - #### reset

          public void reset()

      Resets the digest for further use.

    - #### getAlgorithm

          public final String getAlgorithm()

      Returns a string that identifies the algorithm, independent of implementation details. The name should be a standard Java Security name (such as "SHA", "MD5", and so on). See the MessageDigest section in the Java Cryptography Architecture Standard Algorithm Name Documentation for information about standard algorithm names.
      Returns:
        the name of the algorithm

    - #### getDigestLength

          public final int getDigestLength()

      Returns the length of the digest in bytes, or 0 if this operation is not supported by the provider and the implementation is not cloneable.
      Returns:
        the digest length in bytes, or 0 if this operation is not supported by the provider and the implementation is not cloneable.
      Since:
        1.2

    - #### clone

          public Object clone()
                       throws CloneNotSupportedException

      Returns a clone if the implementation is cloneable.
      Overrides:
        `clone` in class `MessageDigestSpi`
      Returns:
        a clone if the implementation is cloneable.
      Throws:
        `CloneNotSupportedException` - if this is called on an implementation that does not support `Cloneable`.
      See Also:
        `Cloneable`

Submit a bug or feature
For further API reference and developer documentation, see Java SE Documentation. That documentation contains more detailed, developer-targeted descriptions, with conceptual overviews, definitions of terms, workarounds, and working code examples.
Copyright © 1993, 2016, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Use is subject to license terms. Also see the documentation redistribution policy.