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How to Use PBKDF2 AES Key/IV Generator

Use passphrase-based derivation when you need deterministic key generation.

Step 1

Enter a Strong Passphrase

Provide a strong passphrase for deterministic key derivation. PBKDF2 transforms this passphrase into cryptographic key material suitable for AES workflows. For algorithm background, review RFC 8018 (PKCS #5 / PBKDF2).

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Use a long phrase with mixed character classes, not dictionary-only words.
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Avoid reusing login passwords for encryption key derivation.
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Keep passphrase policy aligned with your security baseline.

Example Passphrase Input

correct-horse-battery-staple-v2!2026
Step 2

Configure Salt and Iterations

Choose AES mode, iterations, and salt. Higher iteration count increases brute-force resistance, while random salts prevent precomputed attacks. Salt generation should use secure randomness such as crypto.getRandomValues().

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Set iterations high enough for your threat model and runtime budget.
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Use random, unique salt values per key-derivation context.
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Choose AES-128 or AES-256 based on your interoperability requirements.

Example PBKDF2 Parameters

iterations: 150000
salt(hex): c0ffee9a7654b3d2a1f0e9d8c7b6a591
hash: SHA-256
mode: AES-256
Step 3

Copy Derived Key and IV

Copy the derived key and IV in HEX/Base64 and use them consistently across encryption and decryption services. Always store passphrases and derived secrets according to secure key management practices.

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Use HEX for low-level libraries and Base64 for API payloads.
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Store derivation parameters with ciphertext metadata for deterministic recovery.
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Test derived key in both encryption and decryption paths before production use.

Example Derived Output

key(hex): 0c224b0da971f56f4ca8517ef9f3f12cbb6d8ed66c2c7f4f3fd8f7d3a0f3f8e4
iv(hex):  84a721ed31f7be75c8d4ab1fce0d11bf
Step 4

Validate and Document Parameters

PBKDF2 output is deterministic only when passphrase, salt, iterations, hash, and mode are identical. Document these values and follow NIST SP 800-132 plus OWASP password guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use PBKDF2 instead of raw passphrase as AES key?

Passphrases are not uniformly random. PBKDF2 stretches passphrases with salt and iterations to produce stronger key material.

How many PBKDF2 iterations should I use?

Choose a high count that your system can tolerate in latency. Increase over time as hardware gets faster.

Is salt required for PBKDF2?

Yes. Unique random salts are essential to prevent rainbow table and cross-user precomputation attacks as outlined in RFC 8018.

Can I reproduce the same key and IV later?

Yes. Use the same passphrase, salt, iteration count, hash, and AES mode to reproduce deterministic output.

Is PBKDF2 enough for password storage?

PBKDF2 can be used for password hashing, but configuration must follow current security policy and workload tuning recommendations.

Can I use these outputs in OpenSSL and backend libraries?

Yes, if the same PBKDF2 parameters and encoding formats are used across all systems, including OpenSSL and browser SubtleCrypto deriveBits flows.

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