What is the generic term for a technique (or algorithm) that performs encryption?

What is the generic term for a technique (or algorithm) that performs encryption?

• A. Encryption
• B. Cipher
• C. Decryption
• D. Random Substitution Cipher

Answer: (B)

A cipher is the method used to transform readable text into unreadable text. It describes the rules and steps of the algorithm that performs encryption (and often how to decrypt). Encryption is the act of applying that method to turn plaintext into ciphertext, so it’s the process, not the name of the method itself. Random Substitution Cipher is only a specific type of cipher, not the general term. Decryption is the reverse process that recovers the original text. So the generic term for the technique or algorithm that performs encryption is cipher.

A cipher is the method used to transform readable text into unreadable text. It describes the rules and steps of the algorithm that performs encryption (and often how to decrypt). Encryption is the act of applying that method to turn plaintext into ciphertext, so it’s the process, not the name of the method itself. Random Substitution Cipher is only a specific type of cipher, not the general term. Decryption is the reverse process that recovers the original text. So the generic term for the technique or algorithm that performs encryption is cipher.