Provides the classes and interfaces for cryptographic operations. The cryptographic operations defined in this package include encryption, key generation and key agreement, and Message Authentication Code (MAC) generation.

Support for encryption includes symmetric, asymmetric, block, and stream ciphers. This package also supports secure streams and sealed objects.

Many of the classes provided in this package are provider-based. The class itself defines a programming interface to which applications may write. The implementations themselves may then be written by independent third-party vendors and plugged in seamlessly as needed. Therefore application developers may take advantage of any number of provider-based implementations without having to add or rewrite code.

## Related Documentation

For further documentation, please see:

- JavaTM Cryptography Architecture API Specification and Reference
- How to Implement a Provider for the JavaTM Cryptography Architecture

@since 1.4