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Glossary Security

Public-key cryptography

Public-key (asymmetric) cryptography uses a pair of linked keys: a public key anyone can have, and a private key kept secret.

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In more detail

What one key does, only the other can undo. Anyone can encrypt a message with your public key but only your private key can read it, and a signature made with your private key can be checked by anyone with the public key (Digital signature). RSA and elliptic-curve schemes such as Ed25519 are common. It underpins TLS, SSH and signed software.

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See also

  • Glossary Encryption
    Encryption is the process of scrambling data with a key so that only someone with the right key can read it.
  • Glossary Digital signature
    A digital signature is a value computed from a message and a private key that proves who created it and that it has not been changed.
  • Glossary Digital certificate
    A digital certificate is a signed file that links a public key to an identity, such as a domain name, so others can trust that key.
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