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Auth vs. Wallet vs. Signer: A Comparison

This document aims to provide an overview and comparison of Auth, Wallet, and Signer, three types commonly used for encryption and signing purposes in different networks. Each type serves a specific purpose and has its own characteristics and functionalities.

graph LR
    subgraph AuthType[Auth]
        ByteAuth --> |privateKey| PrivateKey
        PrivateKey --> |sign| SignedTx
        OfflineSigner[Hide PrivateKey] --> DocAuth
        DocAuth --> |signDoc| SignedTx
    end

    Wallet --> |accounts| IAccount[Account]
    Wallet --> |toOfflineSigner| OfflineSigner

    Signer --> |prefix| Prefix
    Signer --> |account| Account
    Signer --> |encoders| Encoder
    Signer --> |signAndBroadCast| SignAndBroadCast

    Account --> |auth| Auth
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1. Auth

Auth is a common implementation of an encryption algorithm that can be utilized across different networks. It provides a signing method to sign binary data. The primary features and characteristics of Auth are as follows:

  • Encryption Algorithm: Auth implements an encryption algorithm that is compatible and usable across various networks.

  • Signing Binary Data: Auth offers a method to sign binary data, which can be used for verifying the integrity and authenticity of the data.

  • Network Agnostic: Auth is designed to work with different networks, making it a versatile solution for encryption and signing needs.

2. Wallet

Wallet is a wrapper built upon Auth, providing additional functionalities and convenience, particularly for Web3 usage. Wallet extends the capabilities of Auth and introduces the following aspects:

  • Signing Network and Document: In addition to signing binary data, Wallet provides a signing method specifically designed for signing network-related information and sign mode specified documents.

  • Web3 Integration: Wallet is tailored for Web3 usage, making it compatible with blockchain and decentralized applications.

  • Enhanced Functionality: Wallet encompasses the features of Auth while incorporating additional functionalities to facilitate secure interactions with Web3 wallets.

3. Signer

Signer is a class that can be constructed from Auth or Wallet. It focuses on providing a signing method specifically for directly signing human-readable messages. Key aspects of Signer include:

  • Signing Human-Readable Messages: Signer offers a dedicated signing method for signing messages that are in a human-readable format, such as plain text or structured data.

  • Flexible Construction: Signer can be constructed using either Auth or Wallet, allowing users to choose their preferred underlying implementation based on their specific requirements.

  • Message-Level Security: Signer emphasizes the signing of human-readable messages, making it suitable for use cases where secure communication and message integrity are essential.

In summary, Auth serves as a fundamental implementation of an encryption algorithm, providing a signing method for binary data. Wallet, built upon Auth, extends its capabilities by introducing network and document-specific signing methods, tailored for Web3 usage. Signer, the top-level layer, contains the code for structured data signing and focuses on dedicated methods for directly signing human-readable messages, which offers flexibility and message-level security.

The hierarchical relationship between Auth, Wallet, and Signer positions Auth as the foundation, Wallet as the middle layer, and Signer as the top layer with the highest-level functionality for structured data signing. However, the specific choice among Auth, Wallet, or Signer depends on specific requirements and use cases, ensuring the appropriate level of encryption, signing, and security for various network-related operations.