Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties. Here are some fundamental concepts:

  • Symmetric Key Cryptography: Uses a single key for both encryption and decryption.
  • Asymmetric Key Cryptography: Uses a pair of keys, one for encryption and one for decryption.
  • Hash Functions: Transform input data into a fixed-size string of bytes.
  • Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): Manages public keys in a way that eliminates the problem of key exchange.

Cryptography in Action

Cryptography is used in various applications, such as:

  • Secure Messaging: Ensures that messages are sent and received securely.
  • E-commerce: Protects sensitive data like credit card numbers.
  • Authentication: Verifies the identity of a user or device.

Further Reading

To learn more about cryptography, check out our Introduction to Cryptography.

Cryptography