liboqs

liboqs is an open source C library for quantum-safe cryptographic algorithms.

liboqs provides:

• a collection of open-source implementations of quantum-safe key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) and digital signature algorithms (see the list of supported algorithms)
• a common API for these algorithms
• a test harness and benchmarking routines

Overview

Open source. liboqs is a C library for quantum-safe cryptographic algorithms, released under the MIT License. liboqs incorporates some external components which use a different license.

Multi-platform. liboqs builds on Linux, macOS, and Windows, supports x86_64 and ARM architectures (except Windows on ARM64), and the clang, gcc, and Microsoft compilers. Toolchains are available for cross-compiling to other platforms. Not all algorithms are supported on all those platforms; always consult the algorithm datasheets for details on each algorithm.

Common API. liboqs uses a common API for post-quantum key encapsulation and signature algorithms, making it easy to switch between algorithms. Our API closely follows the NIST/SUPERCOP API, with some additional wrappers and data structures.

Testing and benchmarking. liboqs includes a test harness and benchmarking routines to compare performance of post-quantum implementations in a common framework.

Application integrations. We provide integrations of liboqs into forks of a range of cryptographic applications and protocols.

Language wrappers. Post-quantum algorithms from liboqs can be used in a variety of other programming languages using the provided wrappers.

Post-quantum algorithm implementations in liboqs are derived from the reference and optimized code submitted by teams to the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project. Some implementations come directly from teams; others come via the PQClean project. See the algorithm datasheets for the lineage of each algorithm’s implementation.

Releases

• version 0.16.0 (July 9, 2026) current version
• version 0.15.0 (November 14, 2025)
• version 0.14.0 (July 10, 2025)
• version 0.13.0 (April 17, 2025)
• version 0.12.0 (December 9, 2024)
• version 0.11.0 (September 27, 2024)
• version 0.10.1 (June 7, 2024)
• version 0.10.0 (March 23, 2024)
• version 0.9.2 (January 16, 2024)
• version 0.9.1 (December 22, 2023)
• version 0.9.0 (October 12, 2023)
• version 0.8.0 (June 7, 2023)
• version 0.7.2 (August 21, 2022)
• version 0.7.1 (December 16, 2021)
• version 0.7.0 (August 11, 2021)
• version 0.6.0 (June 8, 2021)
• version 0.5.0 (March 10, 2021)
• version 0.4.0 (August 11, 2020)
• version 0.3.0 (June 10, 2020)
• version 0.2.0 (October 8, 2019)
• version 0.1.0 (November 13, 2018)
• all releases