For proper encryption of some data, one must need to understand the various elements involved in encryption, such as plaintext, ciphertext, key, encryption, and decryption.

Plaintext

The plaintext is the normal text or original message that needs to be sent from one user to another, without any interference. The plaintext is available only to the sender, and it will become visible to a receiver when it is deciphered using a specific key.

Ciphertext

The ciphertext is the text that comes out when plaintext is incorporated with a key using some specific algorithm. This text is available for all users on the network, but the message cannot be understood by anyone, as it is encoded by using the key. It can only be deciphered by the receiver.

Key

Key is an important component of encryption. It is used in both encryption and decryption of the message. There are two ways to use a key in encryption and decryption, symmetric and asymmetric.

In symmetric key distribution, the same key is used for both encryption and decryption, while in asymmetric two separate keys (public and private) are used for encryption (public) and decryption (private).

Encryption

As explained earlier, encryption is the techniques used to encode a message in a form that can only be understood when it is decoded. It is completed on the sender side, and after encryption, the encoded message is sent to the receiver. If someone accesses the information in the network between sender and receiver, the person would struggle to get the original message.

Decryption

Decryption is processed on the receiver side, where user decrypts the encoded message using the key (same or different) that is shared by the sender. After the decryption of ciphertext receiver will be able to see the original message, which has not interfered.

All of the defined elements play a very important role in sending the message in untempered from one place to another. If any of the elements are not used properly, it can cause problems to the encryption of confidential information.