Onion Routing
Onion Routing is a technique for anonymous communication over a computer network, where messages are repeatedly encrypted and routed through multiple intermediary nodes (called onion routers) in a layered manner. Each node peels off one layer of encryption to reveal the next destination, ensuring that no single node knows both the origin and final destination of the data. This design provides strong privacy and anonymity by obscuring the communication path and protecting against traffic analysis.
Developers should learn Onion Routing when building applications that require high levels of privacy, anonymity, or censorship resistance, such as secure messaging systems, whistleblower platforms, or tools for users in repressive regimes. It is essential for implementing features that protect user identities and data from surveillance, tracking, or interception, particularly in contexts like dark web services, privacy-focused browsers, or decentralized networks where traditional encryption alone is insufficient.