libtasn1 ☆

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Description:
ASN.1 structure parser library

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Security

Tags: asn1 cryptography security library der x509

Install: brew install libtasn1

About:
Libtasn1 is a C library that implements the ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One) data structure definition and parsing utilities. It provides tools to encode and decode data formats used in various cryptographic and networking protocols. Its primary value is enabling robust handling of standardized data structures in security applications.

Key Features:

ASN.1 syntax parsing and DER/BER encoding
Small footprint and designed for low memory usage
Supports the DER (Distinguished Encoding Rules) subset
Portable C library with no external dependencies

Use Cases:

Implementing parsing for X.509 certificates and PKCS standards
Handling Abstract Syntax Notation One data in network protocols
Embedded systems development requiring lightweight ASN.1 support

Alternatives:

OpenSSL – Provides full cryptographic suite including ASN.1, whereas Libtasn1 is a specialized, lightweight library focused solely on ASN.1 parsing.
BoringSSL – A fork of OpenSSL; Libtasn1 offers a smaller, standalone alternative for projects needing only ASN.1 capabilities.

Version History

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