PKIXCertPathChecker (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.security.cert.PKIXCertPathChecker class
Date: 2026-04-17

compact1, compact2, compact3
java.security.cert

## Class PKIXCertPathChecker

- java.lang.Object
- - java.security.cert.PKIXCertPathChecker

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Cloneable, CertPathChecker
  Direct Known Subclasses:
    PKIXRevocationChecker

      public abstract class PKIXCertPathChecker
      extends Object
      implements CertPathChecker, Cloneable

  An abstract class that performs one or more checks on an `X509Certificate`.

  A concrete implementation of the `PKIXCertPathChecker` class can be created to extend the PKIX certification path validation algorithm. For example, an implementation may check for and process a critical private extension of each certificate in a certification path.

  Instances of `PKIXCertPathChecker` are passed as parameters using the `setCertPathCheckers` or `addCertPathChecker` methods of the `PKIXParameters` and `PKIXBuilderParameters` class. Each of the `PKIXCertPathChecker`s `check` methods will be called, in turn, for each certificate processed by a PKIX `CertPathValidator` or `CertPathBuilder` implementation.

  A `PKIXCertPathChecker` may be called multiple times on successive certificates in a certification path. Concrete subclasses are expected to maintain any internal state that may be necessary to check successive certificates. The `init` method is used to initialize the internal state of the checker so that the certificates of a new certification path may be checked. A stateful implementation must override the `clone` method if necessary in order to allow a PKIX `CertPathBuilder` to efficiently backtrack and try other paths. In these situations, the `CertPathBuilder` is able to restore prior path validation states by restoring the cloned `PKIXCertPathChecker`s.

  The order in which the certificates are presented to the `PKIXCertPathChecker` may be either in the forward direction (from target to most-trusted CA) or in the reverse direction (from most-trusted CA to target). A `PKIXCertPathChecker` implementation must support reverse checking (the ability to perform its checks when it is presented with certificates in the reverse direction) and may support forward checking (the ability to perform its checks when it is presented with certificates in the forward direction). The `isForwardCheckingSupported` method indicates whether forward checking is supported.

  Additional input parameters required for executing the check may be specified through constructors of concrete implementations of this class.

  Concurrent Access

  Unless otherwise specified, the methods defined in this class are not thread-safe. Multiple threads that need to access a single object concurrently should synchronize amongst themselves and provide the necessary locking. Multiple threads each manipulating separate objects need not synchronize.

  Since:
    1.4
  See Also:
    `PKIXParameters`, `PKIXBuilderParameters`

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier | Constructor and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected` | `PKIXCertPathChecker()` Default constructor.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `void` | `check(Certificate cert)` Performs the check(s) on the specified certificate using its internal state.
    `abstract void` | `check(Certificate cert, Collection<String> unresolvedCritExts)` Performs the check(s) on the specified certificate using its internal state and removes any critical extensions that it processes from the specified collection of OID strings that represent the unresolved critical extensions.
    `Object` | `clone()` Returns a clone of this object.
    `abstract Set<String>` | `getSupportedExtensions()` Returns an immutable `Set` of X.509 certificate extensions that this `PKIXCertPathChecker` supports (i.e.
    `abstract void` | `init(boolean forward)` Initializes the internal state of this `PKIXCertPathChecker`.
    `abstract boolean` | `isForwardCheckingSupported()` Indicates if forward checking is supported.

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

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

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### PKIXCertPathChecker

          protected PKIXCertPathChecker()

      Default constructor.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### init

          public abstract void init(boolean forward)
                             throws CertPathValidatorException

      Initializes the internal state of this `PKIXCertPathChecker`.

      The `forward` flag specifies the order that certificates will be passed to the `check` method (forward or reverse). A `PKIXCertPathChecker` must support reverse checking and may support forward checking.

      Specified by:
        `init` in interface `CertPathChecker`
      Parameters:
        `forward` - the order that certificates are presented to the `check` method. If `true`, certificates are presented from target to most-trusted CA (forward); if `false`, from most-trusted CA to target (reverse).
      Throws:
        `CertPathValidatorException` - if this `PKIXCertPathChecker` is unable to check certificates in the specified order; it should never be thrown if the forward flag is false since reverse checking must be supported

    - #### isForwardCheckingSupported

          public abstract boolean isForwardCheckingSupported()

      Indicates if forward checking is supported. Forward checking refers to the ability of the `PKIXCertPathChecker` to perform its checks when certificates are presented to the `check` method in the forward direction (from target to most-trusted CA).
      Specified by:
        `isForwardCheckingSupported` in interface `CertPathChecker`
      Returns:
        `true` if forward checking is supported, `false` otherwise

    - #### getSupportedExtensions

          public abstract Set<String> getSupportedExtensions()

      Returns an immutable `Set` of X.509 certificate extensions that this `PKIXCertPathChecker` supports (i.e. recognizes, is able to process), or `null` if no extensions are supported.

      Each element of the set is a `String` representing the Object Identifier (OID) of the X.509 extension that is supported. The OID is represented by a set of nonnegative integers separated by periods.

      All X.509 certificate extensions that a `PKIXCertPathChecker` might possibly be able to process should be included in the set.

      Returns:
        an immutable `Set` of X.509 extension OIDs (in `String` format) supported by this `PKIXCertPathChecker`, or `null` if no extensions are supported

    - #### check

          public abstract void check(Certificate cert,
                                     Collection<String> unresolvedCritExts)
                              throws CertPathValidatorException

      Performs the check(s) on the specified certificate using its internal state and removes any critical extensions that it processes from the specified collection of OID strings that represent the unresolved critical extensions. The certificates are presented in the order specified by the `init` method.
      Parameters:
        `cert` - the `Certificate` to be checked
        `unresolvedCritExts` - a `Collection` of OID strings representing the current set of unresolved critical extensions
      Throws:
        `CertPathValidatorException` - if the specified certificate does not pass the check

    - #### check

          public void check(Certificate cert)
                     throws CertPathValidatorException

      Performs the check(s) on the specified certificate using its internal state. The certificates are presented in the order specified by the `init` method.

      This implementation calls `check(cert, java.util.Collections.<String>emptySet())`.

      Specified by:
        `check` in interface `CertPathChecker`
      Parameters:
        `cert` - the `Certificate` to be checked
      Throws:
        `CertPathValidatorException` - if the specified certificate does not pass the check

    - #### clone

          public Object clone()

      Returns a clone of this object. Calls the `Object.clone()` method. All subclasses which maintain state must support and override this method, if necessary.
      Overrides:
        `clone` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        a copy of this `PKIXCertPathChecker`
      See Also:
        `Cloneable`

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