What is the generic term for a technique (or algorithm) that performs encryption?

What is the generic term for a technique (or algorithm) that performs encryption?

• A. Encryption
• B. Random Substitution Cipher
• C. Cipher
• D. Decryption

Answer: (C)

Cipher is the general term for a method or algorithm used to encode information. It specifies the rules for transforming plaintext into ciphertext, often using a key to determine the exact transformation. Encryption is the act of applying a cipher to hide the message, while decryption is reversing that process to recover the original text. A random substitution cipher is a specific type of cipher, not the broad term. So the term that best fits is Cipher.

Cipher is the general term for a method or algorithm used to encode information. It specifies the rules for transforming plaintext into ciphertext, often using a key to determine the exact transformation. Encryption is the act of applying a cipher to hide the message, while decryption is reversing that process to recover the original text. A random substitution cipher is a specific type of cipher, not the broad term. So the term that best fits is Cipher.