- NAME
- SYNOPSIS
- DESCRIPTION
- NOTES
- RETURN VALUES
- SEE ALSO
- HISTORY

# NAME

EVP_PKEY_new, EVP_PKEY_free - private key allocation functions.

# SYNOPSIS

     #include <openssl/evp.h>

     EVP_PKEY *EVP_PKEY_new(void);
     void EVP_PKEY_free(EVP_PKEY *key);

# DESCRIPTION

The `EVP_PKEY_new()` function allocates an empty EVP_PKEY structure which is used by OpenSSL to store private keys.

`EVP_PKEY_free()` frees up the private key key.

# NOTES

The EVP_PKEY structure is used by various OpenSSL functions which require a general private key without reference to any particular algorithm.

The structure returned by `EVP_PKEY_new()` is empty. To add a private key to this empty structure the functions described in EVP_PKEY_set1_RSA should be used.

# RETURN VALUES

`EVP_PKEY_new()` returns either the newly allocated EVP_PKEY structure of NULL if an error occurred.

`EVP_PKEY_free()` does not return a value.

# SEE ALSO

EVP_PKEY_set1_RSA

# HISTORY

TBA