SSL_LIBRARY_INIT(3ossl)

💖 SSL_LIBRARY_INIT 💖

okay bestie, this is the SSL_LIBRARY_INIT(3ossl) page from the OpenSSL manual, and we're gonna get into it. it's short, it's sweet, it's lowkey a relic, and it's giving "my mom still has this number saved". let's go 🦋

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✨ NAME ✨

SSL_library_init, OpenSSL_add_ssl_algorithms — initialize the SSL library by registering algorithms 🎀

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <openssl/ssl.h>

int SSL_library_init(void);

int OpenSSL_add_ssl_algorithms(void);

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✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

so like. SSL_library_init() registers the available SSL/TLS ciphers and digests. that's the whole job. it's the little pre-game ritual so that the ciphers and digests actually exist when you need them 💅

OpenSSL_add_ssl_algorithms() is a synonym for SSL_library_init() and is implemented as a macro. yes bestie, same energy, different name, macro'd up. two names, one vibe ✨

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✨ NOTES ✨

• SSL_library_init() must be called before any other action takes place. like, before. not after. before. 🫶
• SSL_library_init() is not reentrant. so don't be out here calling it from every thread like it's a free sample table 😭

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✨ WARNINGS ✨

SSL_library_init() adds ciphers and digests used directly and indirectly by SSL/TLS. so it's not just the obvious ones — indirect ones get swept in too. no cap 👑

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✨ RETURN VALUES ✨

SSL_library_init() always returns "1", so it is safe to discard the return value. literally always 1. it never has a bad day. iconic behavior 💖

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✨ SEE ALSO ✨

• ssl(7)
• RAND_add(3)

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✨ HISTORY ✨

the SSL_library_init() and OpenSSL_add_ssl_algorithms() functions were deprecated in OpenSSL 1.1.0 by OPENSSL_init_ssl(). yeah. deprecated. still here. still serving cunt in legacy codebases 💀 the replacement is OPENSSL_init_ssl(), iykyk.

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✨ COPYRIGHT ✨

Copyright 2000-2016 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved. 🌈

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>. 🎀

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and that's the page, bestie!! this was OpenSSL 3.5.9, dated 2026-09-29 — go forth and initialize responsibly, mwah 💅💜🌸