Computer Science – Encryption | e-Consult

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. This makes it very fast and efficient. However, securely sharing the key between the sender and receiver is a challenge. A common use case for symmetric encryption is encrypting large files, such as video or audio files, where speed is a priority. Examples of symmetric algorithms include AES and DES.

Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. The public key can be freely distributed, while the private key must be kept secret. This solves the key exchange problem of symmetric encryption. However, asymmetric encryption is significantly slower than symmetric encryption. A typical use case is secure key exchange, digital signatures, and encrypting small amounts of data like passwords. Examples of asymmetric algorithms include RSA and ECC.

Here's a table summarizing the key differences: