---
name: "gnutls_privkey_generate"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "gnutls"
version: "3.8.13-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gnutls_privkey_generate"
---

# gnutls\_privkey\_generate(3)

API function

## NAME

gnutls\_privkey\_generate - API function

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<gnutls/abstract.h\>**

**int gnutls\_privkey\_generate(gnutls\_privkey\_t** *pkey***, gnutls\_pk\_algorithm\_t** *algo***, unsigned int** *bits***, unsigned int** *flags***);**

## ARGUMENTS

- gnutls\_privkey\_t pkey

  An initialized private key

- gnutls\_pk\_algorithm\_t algo

  is one of the algorithms in **gnutls\_pk\_algorithm\_t**.

- unsigned int bits

  the size of the parameters to generate

- unsigned int flags

  Must be zero or flags from **gnutls\_privkey\_flags\_t**.

## DESCRIPTION

This function will generate a random private key. Note that this function must be called on an initialized private key.

The flag **GNUTLS\_PRIVKEY\_FLAG\_PROVABLE** instructs the key generation process to use algorithms like Shawe-Taylor (from FIPS PUB186-4) which generate provable parameters out of a seed for RSA and DSA keys. See **gnutls\_privkey\_generate2()** for more information.

Note that when generating an elliptic curve key, the curve can be substituted in the place of the bits parameter using the **GNUTLS\_CURVE\_TO\_BITS()** macro. The input to the macro is any curve from **gnutls\_ecc\_curve\_t**.

For DSA keys, if the subgroup size needs to be specified check the **GNUTLS\_SUBGROUP\_TO\_BITS()** macro.

It is recommended to do not set the number of  *bits* directly, use **gnutls\_sec\_param\_to\_pk\_bits()** instead .

See also **gnutls\_privkey\_generate2()**.

## RETURNS

On success, **GNUTLS\_E\_SUCCESS** (0) is returned, otherwise a negative error value.

## SINCE

3\.3.0

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to \<bugs@gnutls.org\>.\
 Home page: https://www.gnutls.org

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2001-2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc., and others.\
 Copying and distribution of this file, with or without modification, are permitted in any medium without royalty provided the copyright notice and this notice are preserved.

## SEE ALSO

The full documentation for **gnutls** is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the /usr/share/doc/gnutls/ directory does not contain the HTML form visit

- https://www.gnutls.org/manual/