Encryption plays a crucial role in ensuring data security by converting plain text into a scrambled format known as ciphertext. This ciphertext can only be read or understood by individuals who possess the corresponding decryption key. Here are the different types of encryption techniques:

1. Symmetric Encryption: In symmetric encryption, the same key is used for both encryption and decryption. This means that the sender and the receiver must have access to the same secret key. Symmetric encryption is faster and more efficient compared to asymmetric encryption but can pose a challenge when the key needs to be securely shared between the communicating parties.

   Uses: Symmetric encryption is commonly used to secure data at rest or in transit. It is suitable for encrypting large amounts of data, such as file encryption, disk encryption, and securing communication between devices or applications within a closed system.

2. Asymmetric Encryption (Public Key Cryptography): Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys – a public key to encrypt data and a private key to decrypt it. The public key can be freely distributed, while the private key is kept secret. Anything encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the corresponding private key.

   Uses: Asymmetric encryption is often used for secure communication over insecure channels, such as encrypting emails, securing online transactions, and establishing secure connections in protocols like SSL/TLS. It also enables digital signatures, ensuring data integrity and authenticity.

3. Hybrid Encryption: Hybrid encryption combines the best of both symmetric and asymmetric encryption techniques. In this approach, asymmetric encryption is used to securely share a randomly generated symmetric key for the actual data encryption using symmetric encryption. This achieves the security benefits of asymmetric encryption with the efficiency of symmetric encryption.