CONSTTIME_MEMEQUAL(3) | Library Functions Manual | CONSTTIME_MEMEQUAL(3)

# NAME

`consttime_memequal` — compare byte strings for equality without timing leaks

# LIBRARY

Standard C Library (libc, -lc)

# SYNOPSIS

`#include <string.h>`

int
`consttime_memequal`(void *b1, void *b2, size_t len);

# DESCRIPTION

The `consttime_memequal`() function compares len bytes of memory at b1 and b2 for equality, returning 0 if they are distinct and 1 if they are identical.

The time taken by `consttime_memequal`() depends on len, but not on the data at b1 or b2. Thus, `consttime_memequal`() is appropriate for comparing cryptographic secrets, hashes, message authentication codes, etc., without leaking information about them through a timing side channel. In crypto literature, `consttime_memequal`() is said to take ‘constant time’, meaning time that does not vary depending on the data it processes.

Note that unlike memcmp(3), `consttime_memequal`() does not return a lexicographic ordering on the data at b1 and b2; it tells only whether they are equal. NetBSD does not provide a `consttime_memcmp`() function, because all known use cases that require ‘constant time’ memory comparison also require only comparison for equality, not lexicographic ordering.

# SEE ALSO

explicit_memset(3), memcmp(3)

# HISTORY

The `consttime_memequal`() function appeared in NetBSD 7.0.

March 23, 2015 | NetBSD 11.0