Which term best describes a technique that performs encryption?

Which term best describes a technique that performs encryption?

• A. Encryption
• B. Decryption
• C. Cipher
• D. Big Data

Answer: (C)

The main idea is understanding what a cipher is in cryptography. A cipher is the algorithm or method used to perform encryption, defining the rules for turning plaintext into ciphertext (and often how to reverse the process with a key). That makes it the best fit for describing the technique used to encrypt data. Encryption refers to the act of encrypting, not the technique itself; decryption is the opposite process; Big Data is unrelated to encryption. For example, the Caesar cipher is a specific cipher, while the term encryption would describe the act of encoding.

The main idea is understanding what a cipher is in cryptography. A cipher is the algorithm or method used to perform encryption, defining the rules for turning plaintext into ciphertext (and often how to reverse the process with a key). That makes it the best fit for describing the technique used to encrypt data. Encryption refers to the act of encrypting, not the technique itself; decryption is the opposite process; Big Data is unrelated to encryption. For example, the Caesar cipher is a specific cipher, while the term encryption would describe the act of encoding.