public key cryptography (PKC) - Glossary (2024)

Definitions:

Cryptography that uses two separate keys to exchange data — one to encrypt or digitally sign the data and one to decrypt the data or verify the digital signature. Also known as public-key cryptography.
Sources:
FIPS 204 under asymmetric cryptography

Encryption system that uses a public-private key pair for encryption and/or digital signature.
Sources:
CNSSI 4009-2015
NIST SP 800-12 Rev. 1 under Public Key Cryptography from CNSSI 4009

See public key cryptography (PKC).
Sources:
CNSSI 4009-2015 under asymmetric cryptography

Cryptography that uses separate keys for encryption and decryption; also known as asymmetric cryptography.
Sources:
NIST SP 1800-16B under Public Key Cryptography
NIST SP 1800-16C under Public Key Cryptography
NIST SP 1800-16D under Public Key Cryptography

A form of cryptography that uses two related keys, a public key and a private key; the two keys have the property that, given the public key, it is computationally infeasible to derive the private key. For key establishment, public-key cryptography allows different parties to communicate securely without havng prior access to a secret key that is shared, by using one or more pairs (public key and private key) of cryptographic keys.
Sources:
NIST SP 800-56B Rev. 2 under Public-key cryptography

A cryptographic system where users have a private key that is kept secret and used to generate a public key (which is freely provided to others). Users can digitally sign data with their private key and the resulting signature can be verified by anyone using the corresponding public key. Also known as a Public-key cryptography.
Sources:
NISTIR 8202 under Asymmetric-key cryptography

See Asymmetric-key cryptography.
Sources:
NISTIR 8202 under Public key cryptography

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See NISTIR 7298 Rev. 3 for additional details.