Cipher - Revision history

Karl Jones at 11:20, 22 April 2016

2016-04-22T11:20:01Z

Karl Jones: /* Cipher versus code */

2016-02-18T01:35:43Z

‎Cipher versus code

Karl Jones at 01:35, 18 February 2016

2016-02-18T01:35:21Z

Karl Jones at 22:45, 7 September 2015

2015-09-07T22:45:42Z

Karl Jones: etc

2015-08-17T15:10:05Z

etc

New page

In [[cryptography]], a '''cipher''' (or '''cypher''') is an [[algorithm]] for performing [[encryption]] or [[decryption]].

A cipher uses a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure.

To encipher or encode is to convert information into cipher or code.

In non-technical usage, a 'cipher' is the same thing as a 'code'; however, the concepts are distinct in cryptography.

In classical cryptography, ciphers were distinguished from codes.

Codes generally substitute different length strings of characters in the output, while ciphers generally substitute the same number of characters as are input.

There are exceptions and some cipher systems may use slightly more, or fewer, characters when output versus the number that were input.

== See also ==

* [[Ciphertext]]
* [[Cryptography]]
* [[Encryption]]
* [[Decryption]]
* [[One-time pad]]
* [[Plaintext]]

== External links ==

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cipher Cipher] @ Wikipedia

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:20, 22 April 2016
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	* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cipher Cipher] @ Wikipedia		* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cipher Cipher] @ Wikipedia
		+
		+	[[Category:Cryptography]]
		+	[[Category:Text]]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 To ''encipher'' or ''[[encode]]'' is to convert information into cipher or code.
-== Cipher versus code ==
+== Ciphers versus codes ==
 In non-technical usage, a 'cipher' is the same thing as a 'code'; however, the concepts are distinct in [[cryptography]].

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 To ''encipher'' or ''[[encode]]'' is to convert information into cipher or code.
-In non-technical usage, a 'cipher' is the same thing as a 'code'; however, the concepts are distinct in cryptography.
+== Cipher versus code ==
 In [[classical cryptography]], ciphers were distinguished from [[codes]].
-Codes generally substitute different length strings of characters in the output, while ciphers generally substitute the same number of characters as are input.
+Codes generally substitute different length strings of [[Character|characters]] in the [[Output|output]], while ciphers generally substitute the same number of characters as are [[input]].
 There are exceptions and some cipher systems may use slightly more, or fewer, characters when output versus the number that were input.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 In [[cryptography]], a '''cipher''' (or '''cypher''') is an [[algorithm]] for performing [[encryption]] or [[decryption]].
-A cipher uses a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure.
+== Description ==
-To encipher or encode is to convert information into cipher or code.
+A cipher uses an [[algorithm]]: a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure.
 In non-technical usage, a 'cipher' is the same thing as a 'code'; however, the concepts are distinct in cryptography.
-In classical cryptography, ciphers were distinguished from codes.
+In [[classical cryptography]], ciphers were distinguished from [[codes]].
 Codes generally substitute different length strings of characters in the output, while ciphers generally substitute the same number of characters as are input.
@@ Line 15: / Line 17: @@
 == See also ==
 * [[Ciphertext]]
 * [[Cryptography]]
 * [[Encryption]]
 * [[Decryption]]