encoding.rst

Encoders

PyNaCl supports a simple method of encoding and decoding messages in different formats. Encoders are simple classes with staticmethods that encode/decode and are typically passed as a keyword argument encoder to various methods.

For example you can generate a signing key and encode it in hex with:

hex_key = nacl.signing.SigningKey.generate().encode(encoder=nacl.encoding.HexEncoder)

Then you can later decode it from hex:

signing_key = nacl.signing.SigningKey(hex_key, encoder=nacl.encoding.HexEncoder)

Built in Encoders

Defining your own Encoder

Defining your own encoder is easy. Each encoder is simply a class with 2 static methods. For example here is the hex encoder:

import binascii

class HexEncoder(object):

    @staticmethod
    def encode(data):
        return binascii.hexlify(data)

    @staticmethod
    def decode(data):
        return binascii.unhexlify(data)