Symmetric-key algorithm

<p>Symmetric-key algorithms are <a href="/facts/Algorithm/fnl5NmRt">algorithms</a> for <a href="/facts/Cryptography/e94PEVau">cryptography</a> that use the same <a href="/facts/Key_(cryptography)/5W5PAmT4">cryptographic keys</a> for both the encryption of <a href="/facts/Plaintext/tWnBDCgE">plaintext</a> and the decryption of <a href="/facts/Ciphertext/luNTs4sY">ciphertext</a>. The keys may be identical, or there may be a simple transformation to go between the two keys. The keys, in practice, represent a <a href="/facts/Shared_secret/ATRz7LXy">shared secret</a> between two or more parties that can be used to maintain a private information link. The requirement that both parties have access to the secret key is one of the main drawbacks of <a href="/facts/Symmetric/hpu7DK8p">symmetric</a>-key encryption, in comparison to <a href="/facts/Public_key_encryption/gowoFTxS">public-key encryption</a> (also known as asymmetric-key encryption). However, symmetric-key encryption algorithms are usually better for bulk encryption. With exception of the <a href="/facts/One-time_pad/03hA9XSQ">one-time pad</a> they have a smaller key size, which means less storage space and faster transmission. Due to this, asymmetric-key encryption is often used to exchange the secret key for symmetric-key encryption.
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Symmetric-key algorithm open-in-new

Symmetric-key algorithm