ASN1\_OBJECT\_NEW(3ossl) OpenSSL ASN1\_OBJECT\_NEW(3ossl)

# [NAME](#NAME)

ASN1\_OBJECT\_new, ASN1\_OBJECT\_free - object allocation functions

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

```
 #include <openssl/asn1.h>
 void ASN1_OBJECT_free(ASN1_OBJECT *a);
```

The following functions have been deprecated since OpenSSL 4.0, and can be hidden entirely by defining **OPENSSL\_API\_COMPAT** with a suitable version value, see [**openssl\_user\_macros**(7)](/man/os/openssl-4.0/openssl_user_macros.7):

```
 ASN1_OBJECT *ASN1_OBJECT_new(void);
```

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

The **ASN1\_OBJECT** allocation routines, allocate and free an **ASN1\_OBJECT** structure, which represents an ASN1 OBJECT IDENTIFIER.

**ASN1\_OBJECT\_new()** is deprecated and exists for legacy backward compatibility reasons and always returns NULL.

**ASN1\_OBJECT\_free()** frees up the **ASN1\_OBJECT** structure *a*. If *a* is NULL, nothing is done.

# [NOTES](#NOTES)

Although **ASN1\_OBJECT\_new()** allocates a new **ASN1\_OBJECT** structure it is almost never used in applications. The ASN1 object utility functions such as **OBJ\_nid2obj()** are used instead.

# [RETURN VALUES](#RETURN_VALUES)

**ASN1\_OBJECT\_new()** always return NULL.

**ASN1\_OBJECT\_free()** returns no value.

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**d2i\_ASN1\_OBJECT**(3)](/man/os/openssl-4.0/d2i_ASN1_OBJECT.3)

# [HISTORY](#HISTORY)

**ASN1\_OBJECT\_new()** was deprecated in OpenSSL 4.0.

# [COPYRIGHT](#COPYRIGHT)

Copyright 2002-2026 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved.

Licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (the "License"). You may not use this file except in compliance with the License. You can obtain a copy in the file LICENSE in the source distribution or at &lt;https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html&gt;.

2026-09-29 4.0.3

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Document: ASN1_OBJECT_free(3ossl) from openssl-4.0 4.0.3-r1 (Chainguard OS)