Asymmetric Encryption
Asymmetric encryption, also known as public-key cryptography, is a cryptographic system that uses a pair of keys—a public key and a private key—for secure data transmission and authentication. The public key is shared openly to encrypt data, while the private key is kept secret to decrypt it, enabling secure communication without prior key exchange. It is fundamental to modern security protocols like SSL/TLS, digital signatures, and secure email.
Developers should learn asymmetric encryption when building systems requiring secure communication over untrusted networks, such as web applications (via HTTPS), blockchain transactions, or encrypted messaging apps. It is essential for implementing authentication mechanisms like digital signatures, key exchange protocols (e.g., Diffie-Hellman), and securing APIs where confidentiality and integrity are critical, as it eliminates the need to share secret keys in advance.