Encryption is the transformation of plaintext data into ciphertext (encrypted text), which means the destruction of its structure in such a way that without the appropriate decryption key, it is impossible to read the information.

The two main types of Encryptions:

• Symmetric
• Asymmetric

Symmetric encryption means use of one key, intended for both encryption and decryption. It’s faster since only receiver side must have a key, but there is a need to maintain the security of key.

Asymmetric encryption is distinguished by the presence of two keys – a public key and  private secret key for encryption and decryption, respectively. In this way, a user can share a public key with anyone without sending a secret one.

The strength of the encryption lies in complexity of algorithms and key length such that it becomes computationally impossible to decrypt the plaintext without use of a key if the entity is unauthorized. Hence, encryption plays a big role in securing data and communication as it provides confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It protects sensitive information against unauthorized access while it is being stored or transmitted and secures online transactions from data breaches. With the ever-increasing cyber-attacks, encryption is the backbone of digital communications concerning privacy and trust.