Crypt::PBC::Element

The Crypt::PBC::Element is a reliable and efficient object-oriented interface that goes hand in hand with the Stanford PBC library. To implement Crypt::PBC::Element, simply add "use Crypt::PBC" to your code. After which, you can create an instance of the pairing by initializing it using the "params_d.txt" file. You can then create and allocate elements for G1, G2, and GT using their respective methods. The GT is an element that results from pairing the G1 and G2 elements.

Throughout the entire Crypt::PBC::Element object-oriented interface, the author has strived to maintain consistency in the Element return method. In instances where it wasn't immediately obvious, the Element object returns itself. For example, if you need to generate an element and randomize it, you can do it in one line of code - $pairing->init_G1->random. You can also set an Element to zero, or set it to a hash value such as "lol!".

However, keep in mind that certain functions that return non-element values such as MIME encoded strings will not work the same way. For example, $string (below) is a MIME encoded string, not an element. If you need more information on how to initialize a new Pairing, you can refer to the Crypt::PBC manpage (under new).