Elements of an encryption system
The main elements of an encryption system are the plaintext, the cryptographic algorithm, the key and the ciphertext.
- The plaintext is the raw message or data that is to be encrypted.
- A cryptographic algorithm or cipher is a mathematical set of rules that defines how the plain text is to be combined with a key.
- The key is a string of digits.
- The ciphertext is the encrypted message.
These terms are probably best illustrated through a very simple example.
If we take the phrase "Web store" and add 2 characters to each letter the phrase becomes "ygd uvqtg". Here:
"Web store" is the plaintext
"add x characters to each letter" is the cryptographic algorithm
"2" is the key
"ygd uvqtg" is the ciphertext
There are two main types of encryption in common use today: secret-key and public-key.
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