Difference Between Symmetric and Asymmetric Key Encryption
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 25th, 2023
There exist various differences between Symmetric Key Encryption and Asymmetric Key Encryption. Symmetric key encryption uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt the message whereas, different keys are used to encrypt and decrypt the message in asymmetric key encryption. The difference between Symmetric Key Encryption and Asymmetric Key Encryption has been illustrated in the table below.
|
Difference between Symmetric Key Encryption and Asymmetric Key Encryption |
|
|
Symmetric Key Encryption |
Asymmetric Key Encryption |
|
It is a simple form of encryption. |
It is complicated from of encryption. |
|
A single key is required for encryption and decryption. |
Two separate keys are used to encrypt and decrypt. |
|
Cypher text will carry smaller or the same size as of original text. |
The size of cypher text can be large or the same. |
|
Quicker process. |
Slower process. |
|
Preferred for large quantity encryption. |
Preferred for small quantity encryption. |
|
Confidentiality is the only benefit of this method. |
Other than confidentiality, it provides authenticity and non-repudiation. |
|
Resources are moderately utilised. |
Resources and highly utilised. |
|
Example: RC4, DES, 3DES, etc. |
Example: Diffie-zhellman, El Gamal, ECC, RS, etc. |
Table of content
Difference between Symmetric Key Encryption and Asymmetric Key Encryption
The difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption is in the way messages are encrypted and decrypted. A method wherein a message is encrypted and decrypted with the use of a single key is called symmetric encryption. On the other hand, asymmetric encryption is a method of encryption and decryption of messages with a different key.
Symmetric Key Encryption vs Asymmetric Key Encryption
Encryption is a very confidential process of converting messages into specific codes in order to save them from being read by any reader. The encryption can be done in various ways and their major types are symmetric and asymmetric key encryption. The key difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption are given below.
Symmetric Encryption
- Singe key is used for the encryption of a message.
- Same key is used to decrypt which was used for encryption.
- It is the simplest method of encryption.
- The single key converts the simple text into ciphertext and again the ciphertext into plain text while decrypting.
- It is safe and faster to execute.
Asymmetric Encryption
- In this, the key used for encryption and decryption is different.
- It uses the public and private key technique.
- Users can use the public key for encryption.
- The private key cannot be exchanged with others while decrypting.
- It takes more time than the symmetric key encryption process.
- An encrypted message by a public key can be decrypted by a private key and vice versa.
Related Topics:
