ASN1_OBJECT_NEW(3SSL)

📦
version 4.0.3 · 14 versions
, in ubuntu stonking

💅 ASN1_OBJECT_NEW — the 3SSL manual, bestie edition ✨

okay so this is the page for ASN1_OBJECT_new and ASN1_OBJECT_free, aka the object allocation functions — yes the whole page is literally about making and yeeting an ASN1_OBJECT. it's short. it's iconic. let's go 🫶

🎀 NAME 🎀

ASN1_OBJECT_new, ASN1_OBJECT_free — the object allocation functions 💖

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

like, the whole vibe in code form:

#include <openssl/asn1.h>

void ASN1_OBJECT_free(ASN1_OBJECT *a);

and now the sad part 😭 — the following functions have been deprecated since OpenSSL 4.0, and you can hide them entirely by defining OPENSSL_API_COMPAT with a suitable version value, see openssl_user_macros(7):

ASN1_OBJECT *ASN1_OBJECT_new(void);
heads up bestie: that second one is on the deprecated list. it's giving legacy. it's giving "why are you still calling me". but we'll get there 💀

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so the ASN1_OBJECT allocation routines allocate and free an ASN1_OBJECT structure, and that structure represents an ASN1 OBJECT IDENTIFIER. that's the whole job description. that's the assignment 👑

  • ASN1_OBJECT_new() is deprecated and exists for legacy backward compatibility reasons — and it always returns NULL. not sometimes. not "if it feels like it". always. it is fr fr not doing the thing you want 🤡
  • ASN1_OBJECT_free() frees up the ASN1_OBJECT structure a. and if a is NULL, nothing is done — no crash, no drama, no nothing. it just looks at the NULL and walks away. main character energy honestly ✨

⭐ NOTES ⭐

okay so this is the part where I hold your hand gently 🫶

even though ASN1_OBJECT_new() allocates a new ASN1_OBJECT structure, it is almost never used in applications. like, basically never. the ASN1 object utility functions such as OBJ_nid2obj() are used instead. so if you were about to reach for ASN1_OBJECT_new(), bestie, put it down. lowkey OBJ_nid2obj() is the moment. iykyk 💅

🌈 RETURN VALUES 🌈

  • ASN1_OBJECT_new() always return NULL. yes, "return", singular verb, that's the manpage's grammar, we respect it 😌 and yes, NULL. every time. no cap.
  • ASN1_OBJECT_free() returns no value. it just does the deed and leaves. silent. mysterious. iconic 🔥

👑 SEE ALSO 👑

d2i_ASN1_OBJECT(3) — go read that one next, bestie, it's the friend this page keeps pointing at 🌸

🎀 HISTORY 🎀

ASN1_OBJECT_new() was deprecated in OpenSSL 4.0. that's the lore. that's the timeline 🕰️

Copyright 2002-2026 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>.

and that's the page!! ✨ this was ASN1_OBJECT_NEW from the OpenSSL 3SSL manual, version 4.0.3, dated 2026-09-29. slay, go free your objects responsibly 💖🎀🦋
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