OSSL_STORE_LOADER(3ossl)

📦

version 3.5.9 · 8 versions

3.5.9 · fedora 43, fedora 44 (latest)
3.5.9 · centos-stream 9
3.5.9 · centos-stream 10
3.5.9 · alpine 3.22
3.5.9 · alpine 3.23, alpine 3.24
3.5.8 · fedora 43
3.5.1 · fedora 43
3.5.5 · fedora 44

✨ NAME ✨

hiii bestie 🫶 welcome to the OSSL_STORE_LOADER(3ossl) page! this one is literally the master doc for the types and functions to manipulate, register and unregister STORE loaders for different URI schemes. it's giving backstage-pass-to-the-STORE-club energy ✨ and ngl the guest list is LONG, so we are going through every single name, no skipping, periodt.

the loader object itself (main character) 👑

OSSL_STORE_LOADER — the loader type. that's her.

fetching, refcounting & metadata 💖

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_fetch — go get yourself a loader.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_up_ref — bump the reference count, keep her alive.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_free — release her when you're done, we don't do leaks here.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_provider — which provider is she from?
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_properties — what properties does she carry?
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_is_a — is she that scheme?
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_description — the lil bio.

enumeration, aka meet the whole roster 🌈

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_do_all_provided — run a callback over every loader the libctx has.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_names_do_all — run a callback over all the names she answers to.

the deprecated era 💀 (rip bozo)

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_new
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_engine
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_scheme

the loader context + all the function-pointer types & their setters 🎀

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open_ex
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_attach
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_ctrl
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_expect
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_find
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_load
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_eof
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_error
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_close
OSSL_STORE_open_fn
OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn
OSSL_STORE_attach_fn
OSSL_STORE_ctrl_fn
OSSL_STORE_expect_fn
OSSL_STORE_find_fn
OSSL_STORE_load_fn
OSSL_STORE_eof_fn
OSSL_STORE_error_fn
OSSL_STORE_close_fn

registration desk 📋

OSSL_STORE_register_loader
OSSL_STORE_unregister_loader

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

okay so first thing, you gotta pull in the header, bestie:

        #include <openssl/store.h>

        typedef struct ossl_store_loader_st OSSL_STORE_LOADER;

        OSSL_STORE_LOADER *OSSL_STORE_LOADER_fetch(OSSL_LIB_CTX *libctx,
                                                   const char *scheme,
                                                   const char *properties);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_up_ref(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader);
        void OSSL_STORE_LOADER_free(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader);
        const OSSL_PROVIDER *OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_provider(const OSSL_STORE_LOADER *
                                                        loader);
        const char *OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_properties(const OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader);
        const char *OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_description(const OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_is_a(const OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader,
                                   const char *scheme);
        void OSSL_STORE_LOADER_do_all_provided(OSSL_LIB_CTX *libctx,
                                               void (*user_fn)(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader,
                                                          void *arg),
                                               void *user_arg);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_names_do_all(const OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader,
                                           void (*fn)(const char *name, void *data),
                                           void *data);

💀 okay so heads up before we go further: these next few functions have been deprecated since OpenSSL 3.0. you can hide them entirely by defining OPENSSL_API_COMPAT with a suitable version value — peep openssl_user_macros(7) for the full tea. do not start new code with these, fr fr 🙈

        OSSL_STORE_LOADER *OSSL_STORE_LOADER_new(ENGINE *e, const char *scheme);
        const ENGINE *OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_engine(const OSSL_STORE_LOADER
                                                    *store_loader);
        const char *OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_scheme(const OSSL_STORE_LOADER
                                                  *store_loader);

and now the part where each loader gets to define its own whole personality — note the comment, it matters, every loader defines its own context struct differently:

        /* struct ossl_store_loader_ctx_st is defined differently by each loader */
        typedef struct ossl_store_loader_ctx_st OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX;

        typedef OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *(*OSSL_STORE_open_fn)(
            const char *uri, const UI_METHOD *ui_method, void *ui_data);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *store_loader,
                                       OSSL_STORE_open_fn store_open_function);
        typedef OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *(*OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn)(
            const char *uri, const UI_METHOD *ui_method, void *ui_data);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open_ex
            (OSSL_STORE_LOADER *store_loader,
             OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn store_open_ex_function);
        typedef OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *(*OSSL_STORE_attach_fn)
            (const OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader, BIO *bio,
             OSSL_LIB_CTX *libctx, const char *propq,
             const UI_METHOD *ui_method, void *ui_data);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_attach(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader,
                                         OSSL_STORE_attach_fn attach_function);
        typedef int (*OSSL_STORE_ctrl_fn)(OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *ctx, int cmd,
                                          va_list args);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_ctrl(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *store_loader,
                                       OSSL_STORE_ctrl_fn store_ctrl_function);
        typedef int (*OSSL_STORE_expect_fn)(OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *ctx, int expected);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_expect(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader,
                                         OSSL_STORE_expect_fn expect_function);
        typedef int (*OSSL_STORE_find_fn)(OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *ctx,
                                          OSSL_STORE_SEARCH *criteria);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_find(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader,
                                       OSSL_STORE_find_fn find_function);
        typedef OSSL_STORE_INFO *(*OSSL_STORE_load_fn)(OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *ctx,
                                                       UI_METHOD *ui_method,
                                                       void *ui_data);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_load(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *store_loader,
                                       OSSL_STORE_load_fn store_load_function);
        typedef int (*OSSL_STORE_eof_fn)(OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *ctx);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_eof(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *store_loader,
                                      OSSL_STORE_eof_fn store_eof_function);
        typedef int (*OSSL_STORE_error_fn)(OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *ctx);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_error(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *store_loader,
                                        OSSL_STORE_error_fn store_error_function);
        typedef int (*OSSL_STORE_close_fn)(OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX *ctx);
        int OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_close(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *store_loader,
                                        OSSL_STORE_close_fn store_close_function);

        int OSSL_STORE_register_loader(OSSL_STORE_LOADER *loader);
        OSSL_STORE_LOADER *OSSL_STORE_unregister_loader(const char *scheme);

# 💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

okay so bestie, OSSL_STORE_LOADER is literally the blueprint for OSSL_STORE loaders — and those loaders implement OSSL_STORE_open(), OSSL_STORE_open_ex(), OSSL_STORE_load(), OSSL_STORE_eof(), OSSL_STORE_error() and OSSL_STORE_close() for specific storage schemes. it's giving main character energy for real. ✨

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_fetch() is out here looking for an implementation for a storage scheme within the providers loaded into the OSSL_LIB_CTX given by libctx, with the properties given by properties. like, it's the matchmaker of loaders. 💅

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_up_ref() increments the reference count for the given loader. (bestie said +1)

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_free() decrements the reference count for the given loader, and when the count reaches zero, it frees it. if the argument is NULL, nothing is done — no tears, no drama. 🫶

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_provider() returns the provider of the given loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_properties() returns the property definition associated with the given loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_is_a() checks if loader is an implementation of an algorithm that's identifiable with scheme. iykyk.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_description() returns a description of the loader, meant for display and human consumption. the description is at the discretion of the loader implementation — so it can be whatever, no cap.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_do_all_provided() traverses all store implementations by all activated providers in the library context libctx, and for each of the implementations, calls user_fn with the implementation method and user_arg as arguments.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_names_do_all() traverses all names for the given loader, and calls fn with each name and data.

🚫 Legacy Types and Functions (deprecated) 🚫

these functions help applications and engines create loaders for schemes they support. but bestie, they are all deprecated and discouraged in favour of provider implementations — see provider-storemgmt(7). like, it's giving flip phone in 2024 energy. 📵

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX is a type template, to be defined by each loader using "struct ossl_store_loader_ctx_st { ... }".

OSSL_STORE_open_fn, OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn, OSSL_STORE_ctrl_fn, OSSL_STORE_expect_fn, OSSL_STORE_find_fn, OSSL_STORE_load_fn, OSSL_STORE_eof_fn, and OSSL_STORE_close_fn are the function pointer types used within a STORE loader. the functions pointed at define the functionality of the given loader.

`OSSL_STORE_open_fn` and `OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn`

OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn takes a URI and is expected to interpret it in the best manner possible according to the scheme the loader implements. it also takes a UI_METHOD and associated data, to be used any time something needs to be prompted for, as well as a library context libctx with an associated property query propq, to be used when fetching necessary algorithms to perform the loads. furthermore, this function is expected to initialize what needs to be initialized, to create a private data store (OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX, see above), and to return it. if something goes wrong, this function is expected to return NULL.

OSSL_STORE_open_fn does the same thing as OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn but uses NULL for the library context libctx and property query propq.

`OSSL_STORE_attach_fn`

this function takes a BIO, otherwise works like OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn.

`OSSL_STORE_ctrl_fn`

this function takes a OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX pointer, a command number cmd and a va_list args and is used to manipulate loader specific parameters.

loader specific command numbers must begin at OSSL_STORE_C_CUSTOM_START. any number below that is reserved for future globally known command numbers.

this function is expected to return 1 on success, 0 on error.

`OSSL_STORE_expect_fn`

this function takes a OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX pointer and a OSSL_STORE_INFO identity expected, and is used to tell the loader what object type is expected. expected may be zero to signify that no specific object type is expected.

this function is expected to return 1 on success, 0 on error.

`OSSL_STORE_find_fn`

this function takes a OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX pointer and a OSSL_STORE_SEARCH search criterion, and is used to tell the loader what to search for.

when called with the loader context being NULL, this function is expected to return 1 if the loader supports the criterion, otherwise 0.

when called with the loader context being something other than NULL, this function is expected to return 1 on success, 0 on error.

`OSSL_STORE_load_fn`

this function takes a OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX pointer and a UI_METHOD with associated data. it's expected to load the next available data, mold it into a data structure that can be wrapped in a OSSL_STORE_INFO using one of the OSSL_STORE_INFO(3) functions. if no more data is available or an error occurs, this function is expected to return NULL. the OSSL_STORE_eof_fn and OSSL_STORE_error_fn functions must indicate if it was in fact the end of data or if an error occurred.

note that this function retrieves one data item only. (one at a time, bestie, we love a measured queen 👑)

`OSSL_STORE_eof_fn`

this function takes a OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX pointer and is expected to return 1 to indicate that the end of available data has been reached. it is otherwise expected to return 0.

`OSSL_STORE_error_fn`

this function takes a OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX pointer and is expected to return 1 to indicate that an error occurred in a previous call to the OSSL_STORE_load_fn function. it is otherwise expected to return 0.

`OSSL_STORE_close_fn`

this function takes a OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX pointer and is expected to close or shut down what needs to be closed, and finally free the contents of the OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX pointer. it returns 1 on success and 0 on error.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_new() creates a new OSSL_STORE_LOADER. it takes an ENGINE e and a string scheme. scheme must always be set. both e and scheme are used as is and must therefore be alive as long as the created loader is. (so like, don't let them ghost you 👻)

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_engine() returns the engine of the store_loader. OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_scheme() returns the scheme of the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open() sets the opener function for the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open_ex() sets the opener with library context function for the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_attach() sets the attacher function for the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_ctrl() sets the control function for the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_expect() sets the expect function for the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_load() sets the loader function for the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_eof() sets the end of file checker function for the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_close() sets the closing function for the store_loader.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_free() frees the given store_loader. if the argument is NULL, nothing is done.

OSSL_STORE_register_loader() registers the given store_loader and thereby makes it available for use with OSSL_STORE_open(), OSSL_STORE_open_ex(), OSSL_STORE_load(), OSSL_STORE_eof() and OSSL_STORE_close().

OSSL_STORE_unregister_loader() unregisters the store loader for the given scheme.

# 🎀 RETURN VALUES 🎀

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_fetch() — returns a pointer to an OSSL_STORE_LOADER object, or NULL on error.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_up_ref() — returns 1 on success, or 0 on error.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_names_do_all() — returns 1 if the callback was called for all names. a return value of 0 means that the callback was not called for any names.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_free() — doesn't return any value. (void queen 💅)
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_provider() — returns a pointer to a provider object, or NULL on error.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_properties() — returns a pointer to a property definition string, or NULL on error.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_is_a() — returns 1 if loader was identifiable, otherwise 0.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_description() — returns a pointer to a description, or NULL if there isn't one.

the functions with the types OSSL_STORE_open_fn, OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn, OSSL_STORE_ctrl_fn, OSSL_STORE_expect_fn, OSSL_STORE_load_fn, OSSL_STORE_eof_fn and OSSL_STORE_close_fn have the same return values as OSSL_STORE_open(), OSSL_STORE_open_ex(), OSSL_STORE_ctrl(), OSSL_STORE_expect(), OSSL_STORE_load(), OSSL_STORE_eof() and OSSL_STORE_close(), respectively.

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_new() — returns a pointer to a OSSL_STORE_LOADER on success, or NULL on failure.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open_ex(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_ctrl(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_load(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_eof() and OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_close() — return 1 on success, or 0 on failure.
OSSL_STORE_register_loader() — returns 1 on success, or 0 on failure.
OSSL_STORE_unregister_loader() — returns the unregistered loader on success, or NULL on failure.

# 🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

# 📜 HISTORY 📜

OSSL_STORE_LOADER_fetch(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_up_ref(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_provider(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_properties(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_description(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_is_a(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_do_all_provided() and OSSL_STORE_LOADER_names_do_all() were added in OpenSSL 3.0.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER and OSSL_STORE_LOADER_free() were added in OpenSSL 1.1.1.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open_ex() and OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn() were added in OpenSSL 3.0, and are deprecated.
OSSL_STORE_LOADER_CTX, OSSL_STORE_LOADER_new(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set0_scheme(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_scheme(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_get0_engine(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_expect(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_find(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_attach(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open_ex(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_open(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_ctrl(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_load(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_eof(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_close(), OSSL_STORE_register_loader(), OSSL_STORE_LOADER_set_error(), OSSL_STORE_unregister_loader(), OSSL_STORE_open_fn(), OSSL_STORE_ctrl_fn(), OSSL_STORE_load_fn(), OSSL_STORE_eof_fn() and OSSL_STORE_close_fn() were added in OpenSSL 1.1.1, and became deprecated in OpenSSL 3.0.

Licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (the "License"). You may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You can obtain a copy in the file LICENSE in the source distribution or at <https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html>.

and that's the tea, bestie. this was OSSL_STORE_LOADER(3ossl), version 3.5.9, dated 2026-09-29. stay iconic, stay secure, and don't forget to free your loaders. mwah 💋✨

📦 where this page comes from

fedora 43: openssl-devel 1:3.5.9-1.fc43 · Apache-2.0
fedora 43: openssl-devel 1:3.5.9-1.fc43 · Apache-2.0
fedora 44: openssl-devel 1:3.5.9-1.fc44 · Apache-2.0
fedora 44: openssl-devel 1:3.5.9-1.fc44 · Apache-2.0
💖 girlified by deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4.1-Flash on 2026-10-14: a language model's rewrite of the original, under its terms

OSSL_STORE_LOADER(3ossl)

✨ NAME ✨

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

🚫 Legacy Types and Functions (deprecated) 🚫

OSSL_STORE_open_fn and OSSL_STORE_open_ex_fn

OSSL_STORE_attach_fn

OSSL_STORE_ctrl_fn

OSSL_STORE_expect_fn

OSSL_STORE_find_fn

OSSL_STORE_load_fn

OSSL_STORE_eof_fn

OSSL_STORE_error_fn

OSSL_STORE_close_fn