SSLSocketFactory (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: javax.net.ssl.SSLSocketFactory class
Date: 2026-07-22

compact1, compact2, compact3
javax.net.ssl

## Class SSLSocketFactory

- java.lang.Object
- - javax.net.SocketFactory
  - - javax.net.ssl.SSLSocketFactory

-     public abstract class SSLSocketFactory
      extends SocketFactory

  `SSLSocketFactory`s create `SSLSocket`s.
  Since:
    1.4
  See Also:
    `SSLSocket`

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor and Description
    `SSLSocketFactory()` Constructor is used only by subclasses.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Static Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `Socket` | `createSocket(Socket s, InputStream consumed, boolean autoClose)` Creates a server mode `Socket` layered over an existing connected socket, and is able to read data which has already been consumed/removed from the `Socket`'s underlying `InputStream`.
    `abstract Socket` | `createSocket(Socket s, String host, int port, boolean autoClose)` Returns a socket layered over an existing socket connected to the named host, at the given port.
    `static SocketFactory` | `getDefault()` Returns the default SSL socket factory.
    `abstract String[]` | `getDefaultCipherSuites()` Returns the list of cipher suites which are enabled by default.
    `abstract String[]` | `getSupportedCipherSuites()` Returns the names of the cipher suites which could be enabled for use on an SSL connection.

    - ### Methods inherited from class javax.net.SocketFactory

      `createSocket, createSocket, createSocket, createSocket, createSocket`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### SSLSocketFactory

          public SSLSocketFactory()

      Constructor is used only by subclasses.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### getDefault

          public static SocketFactory getDefault()

      Returns the default SSL socket factory.

      The first time this method is called, the security property "ssl.SocketFactory.provider" is examined. If it is non-null, a class by that name is loaded and instantiated. If that is successful and the object is an instance of SSLSocketFactory, it is made the default SSL socket factory.

      Otherwise, this method returns `SSLContext.getDefault().getSocketFactory()`. If that call fails, an inoperative factory is returned.

      Returns:
        the default `SocketFactory`
      See Also:
        `SSLContext.getDefault()`

    - #### getDefaultCipherSuites

          public abstract String[] getDefaultCipherSuites()

      Returns the list of cipher suites which are enabled by default. Unless a different list is enabled, handshaking on an SSL connection will use one of these cipher suites. The minimum quality of service for these defaults requires confidentiality protection and server authentication (that is, no anonymous cipher suites).
      Returns:
        array of the cipher suites enabled by default
      See Also:
        `getSupportedCipherSuites()`

    - #### getSupportedCipherSuites

          public abstract String[] getSupportedCipherSuites()

      Returns the names of the cipher suites which could be enabled for use on an SSL connection. Normally, only a subset of these will actually be enabled by default, since this list may include cipher suites which do not meet quality of service requirements for those defaults. Such cipher suites are useful in specialized applications.
      Returns:
        an array of cipher suite names
      See Also:
        `getDefaultCipherSuites()`

    - #### createSocket

          public abstract Socket createSocket(Socket s,
                                              String host,
                                              int port,
                                              boolean autoClose)
                                       throws IOException

      Returns a socket layered over an existing socket connected to the named host, at the given port. This constructor can be used when tunneling SSL through a proxy or when negotiating the use of SSL over an existing socket. The host and port refer to the logical peer destination. This socket is configured using the socket options established for this factory.
      Parameters:
        `s` - the existing socket
        `host` - the server host
        `port` - the server port
        `autoClose` - close the underlying socket when this socket is closed
      Returns:
        a socket connected to the specified host and port
      Throws:
        `IOException` - if an I/O error occurs when creating the socket
        `NullPointerException` - if the parameter s is null

    - #### createSocket

          public Socket createSocket(Socket s,
                                     InputStream consumed,
                                     boolean autoClose)
                              throws IOException

      Creates a server mode `Socket` layered over an existing connected socket, and is able to read data which has already been consumed/removed from the `Socket`'s underlying `InputStream`.

      This method can be used by a server application that needs to observe the inbound data but still create valid SSL/TLS connections: for example, inspection of Server Name Indication (SNI) extensions (See section 3 of TLS Extensions (RFC6066)). Data that has been already removed from the underlying `InputStream` should be loaded into the `consumed` stream before this method is called, perhaps using a `ByteArrayInputStream`. When this `Socket` begins handshaking, it will read all of the data in `consumed` until it reaches `EOF`, then all further data is read from the underlying `InputStream` as usual.

      The returned socket is configured using the socket options established for this factory, and is set to use server mode when handshaking (see `SSLSocket.setUseClientMode(boolean)`).

      Parameters:
        `s` - the existing socket
        `consumed` - the consumed inbound network data that has already been removed from the existing `Socket` `InputStream`. This parameter may be `null` if no data has been removed.
        `autoClose` - close the underlying socket when this socket is closed.
      Returns:
        the `Socket` compliant with the socket options established for this factory
      Throws:
        `IOException` - if an I/O error occurs when creating the socket
        `UnsupportedOperationException` - if the underlying provider does not implement the operation
        `NullPointerException` - if `s` is `null`
      Since:
        1.8

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