Encryption is a fundamental technique used to protect data confidentiality by converting plaintext information into ciphertext, which can only be decrypted by authorized parties possessing the encryption keys.
Encryption Algorithms: Encryption algorithms transform plaintext data into ciphertext using mathematical operations. Common encryption algorithms include Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), and Triple DES (Data Encryption Standard).
Encryption Keys: Encryption keys are used to encrypt and decrypt data. The strength of encryption relies on the length and complexity of the encryption keys. Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption, while asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys (public and private keys).