Why do I need a keystore?

What is the purpose of having a keystore?

Keystore is used to store private key and identity certificates that a specific program should present to both parties (server or client) for verification. Truststore is used to store certificates from Certified Authorities (CA) that verify the certificate presented by the server in SSL connection.

Do I need the keystore file?

You must keep your keystore in a safe and secure place. If you lose access to your app signing key or your key is compromised, Google cannot retrieve the app signing key for you, and you will not be able to release new versions of your app to users as updates to the original app.

What is keystore and how it works?

A keystore can be a repository where private keys, certificates and symmetric keys can be stored. This is typically a file, but the storage can also be handled in different ways (e.g. cryptographic token or using the OS's own mechanism.) KeyStore is also a class which is part of the standard API.

Is keystore same as private key?

Keystore files, commonly known as UTC/JSON files, are files that are generated using a private key + a password of your choosing, essentially encrypting the private key.