Encryption vs. Cipher — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Encryption and Cipher
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Compare with Definitions
Encryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of encoding information. This process converts the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext.
Cipher
In cryptography, a cipher (or cypher) is an algorithm for performing encryption or decryption—a series of well-defined steps that can be followed as a procedure. An alternative, less common term is encipherment.
Encryption
The process or result of encrypting data.
Cipher
The mathematical symbol (0) denoting absence of quantity; zero.
Encryption
Cryptography.
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Cipher
An Arabic numeral or figure; a number.
Encryption
(cryptography) The process of obscuring information to make it unreadable without special knowledge, key files, or passwords.
Cipher
One having no influence or value; a nonentity.
Encryption
(cryptography) A ciphertext, a cryptogram, an encrypted value. Usually used with the preposition "of" followed by the value that is hidden in it.
Cipher
A cryptographic system in which units of text of regular length, usually letters, are transposed or substituted according to a predetermined code.
Encryption
The process of converting messages in ordinary language, or other information into a secret coded form that cannot be interpreted without knowing the secret method for interpretation, called the key.
Cipher
The key to such a system.
Encryption
The activity of converting from plain text into code
Cipher
A message written or transmitted in such a system.
Cipher
A design combining or interweaving letters or initials; a monogram.
Cipher
To solve problems in arithmetic; calculate.
Cipher
To put in secret writing; encode.
Cipher
To solve by means of arithmetic.
Cipher
A numeric character.
Cipher
Any text character.
Cipher
A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name.
A painter's cipher
An engraver's cipher
Cipher
A method of transforming a text in order to conceal its meaning.
The message was written in a simple cipher. Anyone could figure it out.
Cipher
(cryptography) A cryptographic system using an algorithm that converts letters or sequences of bits into ciphertext.
A public-key cipher
Cipher
Ciphertext; a message concealed via a cipher.
The message is clearly a cipher, but I can't figure it out.
Cipher
A grouping of three digits in a number, especially when delimited by commas or periods:
The probability is 1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000 — a number having five ciphers of zeros.
Cipher
(music) A fault in an organ valve which causes a pipe to sound continuously without the key having been pressed.
Cipher
A hip-hop jam session.
Cipher
(slang) The path (usually circular) shared cannabis takes through a group, an occasion of cannabis smoking.
Cipher
Someone or something of no importance.
Cipher
(dated) Zero.
Cipher
To calculate.
I never learned much more than how to read and cipher.
Cipher
(intransitive) To write in code or cipher.
Cipher
Of an organ pipe: to sound independent of the organ.
Cipher
(obsolete) To decipher.
Cipher
A character [0] which, standing by itself, expresses nothing, but when placed at the right hand of a whole number, increases its value tenfold.
Cipher
One who, or that which, has no weight or influence.
Here he was a mere cipher.
Cipher
A character in general, as a figure or letter.
This wisdom began to be written in ciphers and characters and letters bearing the forms of creatures.
Cipher
A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a name; a device; a monogram; as, a painter's cipher, an engraver's cipher, etc. The cut represents the initials N. W.
Cipher
A private alphabet, system of characters, or other mode of writing, contrived for the safe transmission of secrets; also, a writing in such characters.
His father . . . engaged him when he was very young to write all his letters to England in cipher.
Cipher
Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence.
Cipher
To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in arithmetic.
"T was certain he could write and cipher too.
Cipher
To write in occult characters.
His notes he ciphered with Greek characters.
Cipher
To get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer.
Cipher
To decipher.
Cipher
To designate by characters.
Cipher
A message written in a secret code
Cipher
A mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number
Cipher
A quantity of no importance;
It looked like nothing I had ever seen before
Reduced to nil all the work we had done
We racked up a pathetic goose egg
It was all for naught
I didn't hear zilch about it
Cipher
A person of no influence
Cipher
A secret method of writing
Cipher
Convert ordinary language into code;
We should encode the message for security reasons
Cipher
Make a mathematical calculation or computation
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