X509Certificate: what is the difference between getIssuerDN() and getSubjectDN() methods

Question

I'm using X509Certificate class in java, and when I want to get the subject name I try:

x509certificate.getIssuerDN().getName();

and

x509certificate.getSubjectDN().getName();

both methods have the same result. So what is the difference between them ??

Answer 1

This methods reads from two different fields in certificate. It may returns the same result in your case but not in common.

Please refer to getIssuerDN() and getSubjectDN().