NAME

MD5 - Perl interface to the RSA Data Security Inc. MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm

SYNOPSIS

    use MD5;
    
    $context = new MD5;
    $context->reset();
    
    $context->add(LIST);
    $context->addfile(HANDLE);
    
    $digest = $context->digest();
    $string = $context->hexdigest();

    $digest = MD5->hash(SCALAR);
    $string = MD5->hexhash(SCALAR);

DESCRIPTION

The MD5 module allows you to use the RSA Data Security Inc. MD5 Message Digest algorithm from within Perl programs.

A new MD5 context object is created with the new operation. Multiple simultaneous digest contexts can be maintained, if desired. The context is updated with the add operation which adds the strings contained in the LIST parameter. Note, however, that add('foo', 'bar'), add('foo') followed by add('bar') and add('foobar') should all give the same result.

The final message digest value is returned by the digest operation as a 16-byte binary string. This operation delivers the result of add operations since the last new or reset operation. Note that the digest operation is effectively a destructive, read-once operation. Once it has been performed, the context must be reset before being used to calculate another digest value.

Several convenience functions are also provided. The addfile operation takes an open file-handle and reads it until end-of file in 1024 byte blocks adding the contents to the context. The file-handle can either be specified by name or passed as a type-glob reference, as shown in the examples below. The hexdigest operation calls digest and returns the result as a printable string of hexdecimal digits. This is exactly the same operation as performed by the unpack operation in the examples below.

The hash operation can act as either a static member function (ie you invoke it on the MD5 class as in the synopsis above) or as a normal virtual function. In both cases it performs the complete MD5 cycle (reset, add, digest) on the supplied scalar value. This is convenient for handling small quantities of data. When invoked on the class a temporary context is created. When invoked through an already created context object, this context is used. The latter form is slightly more efficient. The hexhash operation is analogous to hexdigest.

EXAMPLES

    use MD5;
    
    $md5 = new MD5;
    $md5->add('foo', 'bar');
    $md5->add('baz');
    $digest = $md5->digest();
    
    print("Digest is " . unpack("H*", $digest) . "\n");

The above example would print out the message

    Digest is 6df23dc03f9b54cc38a0fc1483df6e21

provided that the implementation is working correctly.

Remembering the Perl motto ("There's more than one way to do it"), the following should all give the same result:

    use MD5;
    $md5 = new MD5;

    die "Can't open /etc/passwd ($!)\n" unless open(P, "/etc/passwd");

    seek(P, 0, 0);
    $md5->reset;
    $md5->addfile(P);
    $d = $md5->hexdigest;
    print "addfile (handle name) = $d\n";

    seek(P, 0, 0);
    $md5->reset;
    $md5->addfile(\*P);
    $d = $md5->hexdigest;
    print "addfile (type-glob reference) = $d\n";

    seek(P, 0, 0);
    $md5->reset;
    while (<P>)
    {
        $md5->add($_);
    }
    $d = $md5->hexdigest;
    print "Line at a time = $d\n";

    seek(P, 0, 0);
    $md5->reset;
    $md5->add(<P>);
    $d = $md5->hexdigest;
    print "All lines at once = $d\n";

    seek(P, 0, 0);
    $md5->reset;
    while (read(P, $data, (rand % 128) + 1))
    {
        $md5->add($data);
    }
    $d = $md5->hexdigest;
    print "Random chunks = $d\n";

    seek(P, 0, 0);
    $md5->reset;
    undef $/;
    $data = <P>;
    $d = $md5->hexhash($data);
    print "Single string = $d\n";

    close(P);

NOTE

The MD5 extension may be redistributed under the same terms as Perl. The MD5 algorithm is defined in RFC1321. The basic C code implementing the algorithm is derived from that in the RFC and is covered by the following copyright:

Copyright (C) 1991-2, RSA Data Security, Inc. Created 1991. All rights reserved.

License to copy and use this software is granted provided that it is identified as the "RSA Data Security, Inc. MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing this software or this function.

License is also granted to make and use derivative works provided that such works are identified as "derived from the RSA Data Security, Inc. MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm" in all material mentioning or referencing the derived work.

RSA Data Security, Inc. makes no representations concerning either the merchantability of this software or the suitability of this software for any particular purpose. It is provided "as is" without express or implied warranty of any kind.

These notices must be retained in any copies of any part of this documentation and/or software.

This copyright does not prohibit distribution of any version of Perl containing this extension under the terms of the GNU or Artistic licences.

AUTHOR

The MD5 interface was written by Neil Winton (N.Winton@axion.bt.co.uk).

SEE ALSO

perl(1).