RFC 4716 · INFORMATIONAL · 2006

The Secure Shell Public Key File Format

Overview

RFC 4716, “The Secure Shell Public Key File Format”, is an Informational document published in November 2006 by J. Galbraith, R. Thayer. It has since been updated by RFC 9519. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.

Abstract

This document formally documents an existing public key file format in use for exchanging public keys between different Secure Shell (SSH) implementations.

In addition, this document defines a standard textual representation for SSH public key fingerprints. This memo provides information for the Internet community.

Abstract as published in the RFC, via rfc-editor.org.

What “Informational” means

Published for the general information of the community. It does not define an IETF standard and carries no standards-track status.

Read this RFC

The canonical text of RFC 4716 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.

Relationships to other RFCs
Updated by
RFC 9519
Other RFCs from 2006

Who Is Online

In total there are 57 users online: 0 registered, 51 guests and 6 bots.

Most users ever online was 1,226 on 13 Jun 2026, 3:56 am.

Bots: AhrefsBot Applebot Majestic Other Bot SemrushBot Sogou

Users active in the past 15 minutes. Total registered members: 354