JavaScript

Load a Private Key from a File (Any Format)

Demonstrates the Chilkat PrivateKey.LoadAnyFormatFile method, which loads a private key from a file by inspecting its contents. The first argument is the file path and the second is the password (used if the detected key is encrypted).

Note: The file path is relative to the application's current working directory. Absolute paths may also be used. Supply the path to your own key file.

Background: This is the most convenient loader of all — point it at a key file whose format you do not know and it detects and loads it, whether PKCS #1/#8, encrypted PKCS #8, PEM, JWK, XML, or a Microsoft format. It is the pragmatic default for applications that accept keys from users or varied sources; use a format-specific loader only when you want to enforce a particular expected format.

Note

This example is intended for running within a Chilkat.Js embedded JavaScript engine. All Chilkat JavaScript examples require Chilkat v11.4.0 or greater.

JavaScript

var success = false;

//  Demonstrates the PrivateKey.LoadAnyFormatFile method, which loads a private key from a file by
//  inspecting its contents.  The 1st argument is the file path and the 2nd is the password (used
//  if the detected key is encrypted).

var privKey = new CkPrivateKey();

//  The key password is not hard-coded in a real application; obtain it from an interactive
//  prompt, environment variable, or a secrets vault.
var password = "myKeyPassword";

//  This is the most convenient loader when the file's exact format is unknown: Chilkat inspects
//  the content and handles PKCS #1/#8, encrypted PKCS #8, PEM, JWK, XML, Microsoft formats, etc.
success = privKey.LoadAnyFormatFile("qa_data/some_private_key",password);
if (success == false) {
    console.log(privKey.LastErrorText);
    return;
}

console.log("Loaded a " + privKey.KeyType + " private key.");