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edit Terminology: "certificates" and "private keys
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@ -10,24 +10,25 @@ This chapter discusses the handling of private key material within OpenPGP.
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Private key material is associated with component keys, which are integral parts of [OpenPGP certificates](certificates_chapter). For a discussion of packet structure internals, see the chapter {ref}`zoom_private`.
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Private key material is associated with component keys, which are integral parts of [OpenPGP certificates](certificates_chapter). For a discussion of packet structure internals, see the chapter {ref}`zoom_private`.
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## Terminology: "Certificates" and "private keys"
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## Terminology: "certificates" and "private keys"
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Recall that in this document, we use the term *OpenPGP certificate* to refer to what are often called "OpenPGP public keys": OpenPGP certificates are the combination of component public keys, identity components, binding self-signatures and third-party certifications (as discussed in the previous chapter, {ref}`certificates_chapter`).
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Recall that in this document, the term *OpenPGP certificate* refers to what are commonly known as "OpenPGP public keys." OpenPGP certificates are the combination of component public keys, identity components, binding self-signatures, and third-party certifications,
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as discussed in the previous chapter ({ref}`certificates_chapter`).
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This chapter is about the remaining counterpart to the elements of certificates: The corresponding *private key material* of component keys.
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This chapter focuses on the corresponding counterpart to the elements of certificates: the *private key material* of component keys.
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In this book, we treat the private key material as logically separate from the OpenPGP certificate. A separate subsystem typically handles operations that use private key material. It is useful to think about OpenPGP certificates on one hand, and the associated private key material, on the other, as related but separate elements[^pkcs11]:
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In this documentation, we treat the private key material as logically separate from the OpenPGP certificate. Operations that use private key material are typically managed by a separate subsystem. It is useful to view OpenPGP certificates and the associated private key material as related but distinct elements[^pkcs11]:
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```{figure} diag/OpenPGPCert_with_privatekeystore.png
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```{figure} diag/OpenPGPCert_with_privatekeystore.png
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:name: fig-openpgp-certificate-with-private-key-store
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:name: fig-openpgp-certificate-with-private-key-store
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:alt: Depicts a diagram on white background with an OpenPGP Certificate and a private key store. Gray dotted lines connect the green public key symbols of the OpenPGP Certificate with red dotted private key symbols in the private key store.
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:alt: A diagram on white background showing an OpenPGP certificate and a private key store. Gray dotted lines connect the green public key symbols of the OpenPGP certificate to red dotted private key symbols in the private key store.
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An OpenPGP certificate, with the associated private key material handled in a separate subsystem.
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An OpenPGP certificate, with the associated private key material handled in a separate subsystem.
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```
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```
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[^pkcs11]: This kind of distinction between certificates (which combine public key material and identity information) on the one hand, and private key material on the other, is also applied in the data model of [PKCS #11](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PKCS_11) cryptographic systems.
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[^pkcs11]: The distinction between certificates (which combine public key material and identity information) and private key material is similarly made in the data model of [PKCS #11](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PKCS_11) cryptographic systems.
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However, there is one exception. The cryptographic private key material is sometimes embedded in an OpenPGP framing format that also contains the certificate: Transferable secret keys (TSK).
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However, there is one exception. Cryptographic private key material is sometimes embedded within an OpenPGP framing format that also contains the certificate: transferable secret keys (TSK).
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## Transferable secret key format
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## Transferable secret key format
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