Key (cryptography)
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In cryptography, a key (or cryptographic key) is a piece of information that allows control over the encryption or decryption process.
There two basic categories of cryptographic algorithms.
- Symmetric algorithm: Here the key acts like a normal key. A normal key either locks or unlocks a door. Similarly, the cryptographic key can either encrypt or decrypt a message. The same key is used for both procedures.
- Asymmetric algorithm: With this method, there are two keys. One of them can only decrypt the message, the other can only encrypt the message. This is like using one key to lock a door, and another key to unlock it.