(Node.js) Load Certificate from Smart Card by Key Usage

See more Certificates Examples

You may have a smartcard or USB token that contains only 2 certificates, one for signing, and one for authentication, and you wish to load the certificate for signing. This example demonstrates how to load the 1st certificate found on a smartcard that matches the intended key usage.

Install Chilkat for Node.js and Electron using npm at Chilkat npm packages for Node.js Chilkat npm packages for Electron on Windows, Linux, MacOSX, and ARM

var os = require('os');
if (os.platform() == 'win32') {  
    if (os.arch() == 'ia32') {
        var chilkat = require('@chilkat/ck-node21-win-ia32');
    } else {
        var chilkat = require('@chilkat/ck-node21-win64'); 
    }
} else if (os.platform() == 'linux') {
    if (os.arch() == 'arm') {
        var chilkat = require('@chilkat/ck-node21-arm');
    } else if (os.arch() == 'x86') {
        var chilkat = require('@chilkat/ck-node21-linux32');
    } else {
        var chilkat = require('@chilkat/ck-node21-linux64');
    }
} else if (os.platform() == 'darwin') {
    if (os.arch() == 'arm64') {
        var chilkat = require('@chilkat/ck-node21-mac-m1');
    } else {
        var chilkat = require('@chilkat/ck-node21-macosx');
    }
}

function chilkatExample() {

    // This example requires the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
    // See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

    var cert = new chilkat.Cert();

    // If you know the smart card PIN, set it prior to loading from the smartcard/USB token.
    cert.SmartCardPin = "12345678";

    // To load a certificate matching an intended key usage, specify the type of usage as shown below.
    // 
    // The possible key usage keywords are:
    // 
    // digitalsignature
    // Use when the public key is used with a digital signature mechanism to support security services other than non-repudiation, certificate signing, or CRL signing. 
    // A digital signature is often used for entity authentication and data origin authentication with integrity.

    // nonrepudiation
    // When a digital certificate's key usage includes "nonrepudiation," it implies that the certificate and its associated private key can be used to 
    // create digital signatures that provide proof of the origin and integrity of the signed data, and the signer cannot later deny having signed the data.

    // Other less common usages:

    // certificatesigning
    // keyencipherment
    // dataencipherment
    // crlsigning
    // secureemail
    // serverauthentication
    // clientauthentication
    // codesigning
    // timestamping

    var success = cert.LoadFromSmartcard("keyusage=nonrepudiation");
    if (success == false) {
        console.log(cert.LastErrorText);
        console.log("Certificate not loaded.");
        return;
    }

    console.log("Found: " + cert.SubjectDN + " serial=" + cert.SerialNumber);

}

chilkatExample();