Module java.base
Package java.security

## Interface PublicKey

- All Superinterfaces:
    `Key`, `Serializable`
  All Known Subinterfaces:
    `DHPublicKey`, `DSAPublicKey`, `ECPublicKey`, `RSAPublicKey`, `XECPublicKey`

      public interface PublicKey
      extends Key

  A public key. This interface contains no methods or constants. It merely serves to group (and provide type safety for) all public key interfaces. Note: The specialized public key interfaces extend this interface. See, for example, the DSAPublicKey interface in `java.security.interfaces`.

  Since:
    1.1
  See Also:
    `Key`, `PrivateKey`, `Certificate`, `Signature.initVerify(java.security.PublicKey)`, `DSAPublicKey`, `RSAPublicKey`

- - ### Field Summary

    Fields
    Modifier and Type | Field | Description
    --- | --- | ---
    `static long` | `serialVersionUID` | Deprecated. A `serialVersionUID` field in an interface is ineffectual.

  - ### Method Summary

    - ### Methods declared in interface java.security.Key

      `getAlgorithm, getEncoded, getFormat`

- - ### Field Detail

    - #### serialVersionUID

          @Deprecated
          static final long serialVersionUID

      Deprecated.
      A `serialVersionUID` field in an interface is ineffectual. Do not use; no replacement.
      The class fingerprint that is set to indicate serialization compatibility with a previous version of the class.
      See Also:
        Constant Field Values