crypto_alloc_cipher(9)

💅 crypto_alloc_cipher(9)

okay so bestie, welcome to the Kernel API Manual entry for crypto_alloc_cipher — this is the moment where you get yourself a single block cipher handle, and honestly? iconic behavior. let's get into it 💖

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✨ NAME ✨

crypto_alloc_cipher — allocate single block cipher handle 🎀

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

struct crypto_cipher * crypto_alloc_cipher (const char *alg_name , u32
type , u32 mask );

like, that's the whole vibe. one function, three args, returns you a struct crypto_cipher *. no cap. ✨

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🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

• alg_name — this one's the cra_name / name or the cra_driver_name / driver name of the single block cipher. so you either give it the cute generic name or the specific driver name, your call, main character energy either way 🫶
• type — specifies the type of the cipher. yep, that's the parameter. that's what it does 💅
• mask — specifies the mask for the cipher. also exactly what it says on the tin 🌸

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💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

so what we're doing here is allocating a cipher handle for a single block cipher. the returned struct crypto_cipher is the cipher handle — and bestie, you literally need it for any subsequent API invocation for that single block cipher. like, it's not optional. it's the key to the whole group chat 🔥

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⭐ RETURN ⭐

• on success? you get the allocated cipher handle. slay 💖
• on error? IS_ERR is true, and PTR_ERR returns the error code. so always, always check — don't just start using it and expect the universe to be nice to you 😭

fr fr, run your IS_ERR check. the kernel does not do vibes-based error handling.

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🌈 SEE ALSO 🌈

• Kernel file ./include/crypto/internal/cipher.h
• Single Block Cipher API(9)
• crypto_free_cipher(9)
• crypto_has_cipher(9)
• crypto_cipher_blocksize(9)
• crypto_cipher_setkey(9)
• crypto_cipher_encrypt_one(9)
• crypto_cipher_decrypt_one(9)

like a whole little friend group of cipher functions, iykyk 🧚

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and that's the page!! 💜 this one lives in ./include/crypto/internal, dated October 2026, and it's filed under crypto_alloc_cipher(9) — go forth and allocate responsibly, bestie 👑🎀