> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.seismic.systems/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.seismic.systems/clients/python/precompiles/hkdf.md).

# hkdf

Derive a 32-byte key with the HKDF precompile at `0x68`.

## Overview

`hkdf()` and `async_hkdf()` accept arbitrary input key material (`ikm`) and return a `Bytes32` derived key.

## Signature

```python
def hkdf(
    w3: Web3,
    ikm: bytes,
) -> Bytes32

async def async_hkdf(
    w3: AsyncWeb3,
    ikm: bytes,
) -> Bytes32
```

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type                 | Required | Description              |
| --------- | -------------------- | -------- | ------------------------ |
| `w3`      | `Web3` / `AsyncWeb3` | Yes      | Connected Seismic client |
| `ikm`     | `bytes`              | Yes      | Input key material       |

## Returns

| Type                                                        | Description         |
| ----------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- |
| [`Bytes32`](/clients/python/api-reference/types/bytes32.md) | 32-byte derived key |

## Examples

### Basic Usage

```python
from seismic_web3 import create_public_client
from seismic_web3 import precompiles as sp

w3 = create_public_client("https://testnet-1.seismictest.net/rpc")

key = sp.hkdf(w3, b"input key material")
print(key.to_0x_hex())
```

### Context Separation

```python
master = b"shared-secret"
encryption_key = sp.hkdf(w3, master + b"\x01encryption")
auth_key = sp.hkdf(w3, master + b"\x02auth")
assert encryption_key != auth_key
```

### Async Usage

```python
from seismic_web3 import create_async_public_client
from seismic_web3 import precompiles as sp

async def main():
    w3 = create_async_public_client("https://testnet-1.seismictest.net/rpc")
    key = await sp.async_hkdf(w3, b"async input")
    print(key.to_0x_hex())
```

## Gas Cost

The SDK computes gas as:

```python
from math import ceil

linear = 3000 + ceil(len(ikm) / 32) * 12
total_gas = 2 * linear + 120
```

Examples:

* `len(ikm)=0`: `6120`
* `len(ikm)=32`: `6144`

## Notes

* Deterministic: the same `ikm` always produces the same output.
* Good for deriving protocol keys from shared secrets.
* Not a password hashing function; use `argon2`/`bcrypt` for password storage.

## See Also

* [HKDF — Precompiles Reference](/reference/precompiles/hkdf.md)
* [ecdh](/clients/python/precompiles/ecdh.md)
* [aes-gcm-encrypt](/clients/python/precompiles/aes-gcm-encrypt.md)
* [rng](/clients/python/precompiles/rng.md)


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