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

compact1, compact2, compact3
java.security

## Class Signer

- java.lang.Object
- - java.security.Identity
  - - java.security.Signer

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Serializable, Principal

  Deprecated.
  This class is no longer used. Its functionality has been replaced by `java.security.KeyStore`, the `java.security.cert` package, and `java.security.Principal`.

      @Deprecated
      public abstract class Signer
      extends Identity

  This class is used to represent an Identity that can also digitally sign data.

  The management of a signer's private keys is an important and sensitive issue that should be handled by subclasses as appropriate to their intended use.

  See Also:
    `Identity`, Serialized Form

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier | Constructor and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected` | `Signer()` Deprecated. Creates a signer.
    `` | `Signer(String name)` Deprecated. Creates a signer with the specified identity name.
    `` | `Signer(String name, IdentityScope scope)` Deprecated. Creates a signer with the specified identity name and scope.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Instance Methods Concrete Methods Deprecated Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `PrivateKey` | `getPrivateKey()` Deprecated. Returns this signer's private key.
    `void` | `setKeyPair(KeyPair pair)` Deprecated. Sets the key pair (public key and private key) for this signer.
    `String` | `toString()` Deprecated. Returns a string of information about the signer.

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

      `addCertificate, certificates, equals, getInfo, getName, getPublicKey, getScope, hashCode, identityEquals, removeCertificate, setInfo, setPublicKey, toString`

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

      `clone, finalize, getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

    - ### Methods inherited from interface java.security.Principal

      `implies`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### Signer

          protected Signer()

      Deprecated.
      Creates a signer. This constructor should only be used for serialization.

    - #### Signer

          public Signer(String name)

      Deprecated.
      Creates a signer with the specified identity name.
      Parameters:
        `name` - the identity name.

    - #### Signer

          public Signer(String name,
                        IdentityScope scope)
                 throws KeyManagementException

      Deprecated.
      Creates a signer with the specified identity name and scope.
      Parameters:
        `name` - the identity name.
        `scope` - the scope of the identity.
      Throws:
        `KeyManagementException` - if there is already an identity with the same name in the scope.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getPrivateKey

          public PrivateKey getPrivateKey()

      Deprecated.
      Returns this signer's private key.

      First, if there is a security manager, its `checkSecurityAccess` method is called with `"getSignerPrivateKey"` as its argument to see if it's ok to return the private key.

      Returns:
        this signer's private key, or null if the private key has not yet been set.
      Throws:
        `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkSecurityAccess` method doesn't allow returning the private key.
      See Also:
        `SecurityManager.checkSecurityAccess(java.lang.String)`

    - #### setKeyPair

          public final void setKeyPair(KeyPair pair)
                                throws InvalidParameterException,
                                       KeyException

      Deprecated.
      Sets the key pair (public key and private key) for this signer.

      First, if there is a security manager, its `checkSecurityAccess` method is called with `"setSignerKeyPair"` as its argument to see if it's ok to set the key pair.

      Parameters:
        `pair` - an initialized key pair.
      Throws:
        `InvalidParameterException` - if the key pair is not properly initialized.
        `KeyException` - if the key pair cannot be set for any other reason.
        `SecurityException` - if a security manager exists and its `checkSecurityAccess` method doesn't allow setting the key pair.
      See Also:
        `SecurityManager.checkSecurityAccess(java.lang.String)`

    - #### toString

          public String toString()

      Deprecated.
      Returns a string of information about the signer.
      Specified by:
        `toString` in interface `Principal`
      Overrides:
        `toString` in class `Identity`
      Returns:
        a string of information about the signer.
      See Also:
        `SecurityManager.checkSecurityAccess(java.lang.String)`

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