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Cryptography

Definition

Cryptography refers to techniques used for secure communication in the presence of adversaries. It involves encoding information in such a way that only authorized parties can understand it.

Analogy

Think of cryptography as sending secret messages using invisible ink. Only those who possess the special decoding tool (key) can decipher the hidden message.

Related terms

Encryption: The process of converting plain text into cipher text using algorithms and keys.

Decryption: The reverse process of encryption, converting cipher text back into plain text using specific keys.

Hashing: A technique that converts data into a fixed-size string of characters, making it difficult to reverse-engineer the original data.



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.