Cryptography

Cryptography is the technique of masking and unmasking information. Even though it was used back in Ancient Rome, with the use of algorithms and computational power, modern cryptography is heavily used for hiding information in the digital era. It is the process of creating algorithms to transform the data into a non-readable text.

How Does Cryptography Work?

The cryptography process progresses with two general steps:

• Encryption: In the encryption part, the algorithm takes the input of the text that wants to be hidden. In cryptography, text that is not encrypted and the data is readable before the encryption is called plaintext. There are many methods to transform plaintext into ciphertext. The ciphertext is the text created with the encryption methods from the plaintext. Learn more about ciphertext.
• Deciphering the data: When receiving the ciphertext, if an individual wants to read and understands the original, plaintext data, they must use decipher the ciphertext. Similar to encryption, when it comes to solving the ciphertext, there are various methods to decipher it, such as using a symmetrical or asymmetrical key.

The function of cryptography differs because of the purpose of the usage. For example, if plaintext uses the same key for encrypting and deciphering processes, it is called symmetric encryption. This encryption is fast and basic compared to the opposite type, which is asymmetric encryption.

Importance of cryptography in blockchain networks

The cryptography process is the foundation element of blockchain systems. The cryptography and its applications make it possible to create a blockchain and other crypto assets. The hiding the information factor creates a secure and trustful structure for keeping track of the transactions for all users in the network. Obviously, using cryptography and applying encryption to the data in a ciphertext is also crucial for anonymity purposes because it creates a non-readable text without the key for deciphering.