Hostivõti

Hostivõti is a compound word that can be read as "host's key" in Estonian. Because it combines the loanword host with võti (key), its exact meaning varies with context. There is no single, widely adopted definition for hostivõti in standard Estonian terminology.

In computing, hostivõti could be used to refer to the concept of a host key, a cryptographic key used to identify a host in a network. In protocols such as SSH and TLS, the host's public key is used to establish secure connections and the host authenticates itself to clients. The private key remains with the host and must be protected.

For hospitality or real estate contexts, hostivõti could describe a physical or digital key provided by a host to a guest, granting access to a property or room. In practice, Estonian documentation uses phrases like võti külalisele (key for the guest) rather than a consolidated term.

Linguistically, Estonian frequently forms compound nouns by combining elements; hostivõti would be a plausible but informal construction, and its interpretation is domain-specific. If encountered, clarification is recommended to avoid ambiguity.

See also: host key, SSH, TLS, võti, võõrustaja.