# Nostr library
[](https://hex.pm/packages/nostr_lib)
[](https://hexdocs.pm/nostr_lib)
[](https://github.com/sgiath/nostr-lib/blob/master/LICENSE)
A comprehensive low-level Elixir library implementing the [Nostr protocol](https://nostr.com/).
Provides structures, parsing, serialization, and cryptographic functions for building Nostr
applications.
## Features
- Full event lifecycle: creation, signing, validation, serialization
- Schnorr signature support (secp256k1)
- NIP-44 encryption (versioned encrypted payloads)
- NIP-19 bech32 encoding (npub, nsec, note, nprofile, nevent, naddr)
- NIP-59 gift wrap protocol for private messaging
- WebSocket message protocol handling
- NIP-13 proof-of-work difficulty validation and mining helpers
- NIP-29 relay-based groups helpers
- NIP-77 negentropy wire message handling (`NEG-OPEN`, `NEG-MSG`, `NEG-CLOSE`, `NEG-ERR`)
- NIP-98 HTTP auth event creation and validation
- Subscription filter building
## Installation
Add `nostr_lib` to your dependencies in `mix.exs`:
```elixir
def deps do
[
{:nostr_lib, "~> 0.2.1"}
]
end
```
## Quick Start
### Create and Sign an Event
```elixir
# Generate or use existing private key (32 bytes hex)
private_key = "your_private_key_hex"
# Create a text note (kind 1)
{:ok, event} = Nostr.Event.Note.create("Hello Nostr!", private_key)
# Serialize for sending to relay
json = Nostr.Event.serialize(event)
```
### Parse Incoming Events
```elixir
# Parse JSON from relay
{:ok, event} = Nostr.Event.parse(json_string)
# Validate event signature
case Nostr.Event.Validator.validate(event) do
{:ok, event} -> # Valid event
{:error, reason, event} -> # Invalid
end
```
### Build Subscription Filters
```elixir
# Create a filter for text notes from specific authors
filter = %Nostr.Filter{
kinds: [1],
authors: ["pubkey1", "pubkey2"],
limit: 100
}
```
### Bech32 Encoding
```elixir
# Encode public key as npub
{:ok, npub} = Nostr.Bech32.encode(:npub, pubkey_hex)
# => "npub1..."
# Decode back
{:ok, {:npub, pubkey}} = Nostr.Bech32.decode(npub)
```
## Implemented NIPs
| NIP | Status | Description | Event Kinds |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------ |
| [NIP-01](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/01.md) | Full | Basic protocol | 0, 1 |
| [NIP-02](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/02.md) | Full | Follow list | 3 |
| [NIP-03](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/03.md) | Full | OpenTimestamps | 1040 |
| [NIP-04](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/04.md) | Deprecated | Encrypted DMs (use NIP-17) | 4 |
| [NIP-05](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/05.md) | Full | DNS-based identifiers | - |
| [NIP-09](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/09.md) | Full | Event deletion | 5 |
| [NIP-13](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/13.md) | Full | Proof of Work | - |
| [NIP-16](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/16.md) | Full | Event kind ranges | 1000-39999 |
| [NIP-17](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/17.md) | Full | Private direct messages | 14, 15, 10050 |
| [NIP-18](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/18.md) | Deprecated | Reposts | 6 |
| [NIP-19](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/19.md) | Full | Bech32 encoding | - |
| [NIP-21](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/21.md) | Full | nostr: URI scheme | - |
| [NIP-22](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/22.md) | Full | Comments | 1111 |
| [NIP-23](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/23.md) | Full | Long-form content | 30023, 30024 |
| [NIP-25](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/25.md) | Full | Reactions | 7, 17 |
| [NIP-28](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/28.md) | Full | Public chat channels | 40-44 |
| [NIP-29](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/29.md) | Partial | Relay-based groups helpers | 9000-9022, 39000-39003 |
| [NIP-30](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/30.md) | Full | Custom emoji | - |
| [NIP-32](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/32.md) | Full | Labeling | 1985 |
| [NIP-36](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/36.md) | Full | Sensitive content | - |
| [NIP-37](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/37.md) | Full | Draft events | 31234 |
| [NIP-38](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/38.md) | Full | User statuses | 30315 |
| [NIP-39](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/39.md) | Full | External identities | - |
| [NIP-42](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/42.md) | Full | Relay authentication | 22242 |
| [NIP-44](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/44.md) | Full | Versioned encryption | - |
| [NIP-45](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/45.md) | Partial | Event counting | - |
| [NIP-49](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/49.md) | Full | Private key encryption | - |
| [NIP-51](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/51.md) | Full | Lists | 10001-10030, 30000-30030 |
| [NIP-52](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/52.md) | Full | Calendar | 31924 |
| [NIP-56](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/56.md) | Full | Reporting | 1984 |
| [NIP-57](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/57.md) | Full | Lightning zaps | 9734, 9735 |
| [NIP-58](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/58.md) | Full | Badges | 8 |
| [NIP-59](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/59.md) | Full | Gift wrap | 13, 1059 |
| [NIP-65](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/65.md) | Full | Relay list metadata | 10002 |
| [NIP-77](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/77.md) | Partial | Negentropy message contract | - |
| [NIP-94](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/94.md) | Full | File metadata | 1063 |
| [NIP-98](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/98.md) | Partial | HTTP Auth event semantics | 27235 |
## Core Modules
| Module | Description |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Nostr.Event` | Core event struct with create, parse, serialize, sign, validate |
| `Nostr.Crypto` | Cryptographic operations (keys, signing, encryption) |
| `Nostr.Message` | WebSocket protocol messages (EVENT, REQ, CLOSE, etc.) |
| `Nostr.Filter` | Subscription filter building |
| `Nostr.Bech32` | NIP-19 bech32 encoding/decoding |
| `Nostr.NIP44` | Versioned encrypted payloads |
| `Nostr.NIP17` | Private message convenience functions |
| `Nostr.NIP05` | DNS-based identifier verification |
## Event Types
Each event kind has a dedicated module in `Nostr.Event.*`:
| Kind | Module | Description |
| ----- | ------------------ | ----------------------------- |
| 0 | `Metadata` | User profile metadata |
| 1 | `Note` | Text notes/posts |
| 3 | `Contacts` | Follow list |
| 4 | `DirectMessage` | Encrypted DMs (deprecated) |
| 5 | `Deletion` | Event deletion requests |
| 6 | `Repost` | Reposts (deprecated) |
| 7 | `Reaction` | Reactions to events |
| 8 | `BadgeAward` | Badge awards |
| 13 | `Seal` | Sealed/encrypted events |
| 14 | `PrivateMessage` | Private chat messages |
| 15 | `FileMessage` | Encrypted file messages |
| 17 | `ExternalReaction` | Reactions to external content |
| 40-44 | `Channel*` | Public chat channels |
| 1040 | `OpenTimestamps` | Timestamp attestations |
| 1059 | `GiftWrap` | Gift wrapped events |
| 1063 | `FileMetadata` | File metadata |
| 1111 | `Comment` | Threaded comments |
| 1984 | `Report` | Content reports |
| 1985 | `Label` | Content labels |
| 9734 | `ZapRequest` | Lightning zap requests |
| 9735 | `ZapReceipt` | Lightning zap receipts |
| 10002 | `RelayList` | Relay list metadata |
| 10050 | `DMRelayList` | DM relay preferences |
| 22242 | `ClientAuth` | Client authentication |
| 27235 | `HttpAuth` | HTTP authentication |
| 30023 | `Article` | Long-form content |
| 30315 | `UserStatus` | User status updates |
## Related Packages
This library is part of a larger Nostr ecosystem for Elixir:
- **nostr_lib** (this package) - Low-level protocol implementation
- **nostr_client** - WebSocket client for connecting to relays
- **nostr_server** - WebSocket server for building relays
- **nostr_relay** - Full relay implementation
## Documentation
Full documentation is available on [HexDocs](https://hexdocs.pm/nostr_lib).
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues and pull requests.