Symmetric Encryption

Updated 31 Jul 2026

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def
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  encryption where the same key is used to both encrypt and decrypt
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example
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  ROT13 cipher — shifts each letter 13 positions in the alphabet; the same shift both encrypts and decrypts (a simple teaching example only, not used for real security)
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advantage
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  far less computationally intense than Asymmetric Encryption
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challenge
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  key exchange — both parties need the same key, so there must be a secure way to share that key if they aren't in the same physical location
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related
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  Asymmetric Encryption
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  Key Exchange
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cards
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  What's the main tradeoff between symmetric and asymmetric encryption?
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    Symmetric uses one shared key and is fast, but requires a secure way to exchange that key; asymmetric solves key exchange but is far more computationally intensive

Linked references 7