nacl
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Description:
Network communication, encryption, decryption, signatures library
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Security
Tags: cryptography networking security encryption library
Install: brew install nacl
About:
NaCl (Networking and Cryptography Library) is a high-speed software library for network communication, encryption, decryption, and signatures. Designed by Daniel J. Bernstein, it provides a simple API that prioritizes security and consistent performance across various platforms. Its primary value is offering state-of-the-art cryptographic primitives that resist timing attacks.
Key Features:
  • High-speed cryptographic operations
  • Protection against timing attacks
  • Simple and easy-to-use API
  • Portable across multiple platforms
Use Cases:
  • Securing network communications in applications
  • Implementing authenticated encryption schemes
  • Creating digital signatures for data integrity
Alternatives:
  • OpenSSL – OpenSSL is more feature-rich and widely adopted but has a significantly more complex API and a larger attack surface.
  • Libsodium – Libsodium is a modern, easy-to-use library based on NaCl principles, often preferred for new projects due to its active maintenance and portability.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Dec 23, 2024 4:58am 0 VERSION_BUMP 2c545c38