Literal Data

If you want to encrypt or sign some data using OpenPGP, this data needs to be enclosed by a literal data packet. The literal data packet also contains some metadata, like the format, filename, and a timestamp.

Note: This metadata has to be taken with a grain of salt, because it is not protected by Version 4 Signatures. By not including the metadata (and the framing) in the signature, a signature over some data enclosed by a literal data packet is the same as a detached signature over the same data. The proposed Version 5 Signatures do include the metadata.

-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----

yx1iCWhlbGxvLnR4dFx1TW9IZWxsbywgd29ybGQhCg==
=3swl
-----END PGP MESSAGE-----

The first byte denotes the kind of data. 0x62, or b, indicates binary data, t text, u text encoded using UTF-8, and m an enclosed MIME message body part. Most of the time, the format will simply be set to b.

The next byte indicates the length of the file name, followed by the actual file name. This encoding limits the length of the filename to 256 characters. The zero-length filename is valid.

Next, a unsigned four byte value denotes a time associated with the data. The standard suggests to use the creation or modification time. The special value 0 means that no specific time should be associated with the data.

Finally, the remainder of the packet is simply the enclosed data itself.

If you want to learn more about OpenPGP’s Literal Data Packet, see section 5.9 of RFC4880.