Difference between Private Key vs Public Key
We must first know what a key is before we get to know the difference between a public and a private key. A cryptographical key is a component that converts plain text into a code type (ciphertext) or the other way around with a cryptographic algorithm. It is this private key that enables secure communication. The cryptograption key is the core component of any cryptographic operation. Some systems involve encryption and decryption pairs of activities. A key to this type of operation is given as variable data as an entrance to a cryptographic algorithm. The protection of the scheme in a properly specified cryptographic framework depends on the protection of the key. In this topic, we are going to learn about Private Key vs Public Key.
What is the private Key?
The private key is used for the encryption and decryption of data. The sender and recipient of the authenticated confidential information are exchanged with this key. The symmetric configuration is often referred to as the private key. Private key encryption is quicker than the method of public-key encryption.
What is Public Key?
Using the public key to encrypt and decrypt the data with a private key. The sender and receiver of the encrypted confidential information are exchanged with the private key. Asymmetric cryptography is often called a public key.
Head to Head Comparison Between Private Key vs Public Key (Infographics)
Below are the top differences between Private Key and Public Key
Key Differences of a Private Key and Public Key
- A key to encrypting a simple text message and translating it into the encoded file known as ciphertext is used for public-key cryptography. The other key is then used to decrypt this ciphertext as the decryption key to allow the recipient to read the original letter. In short, the biggest difference between a private to a public key is that one encrypts and the other decrypts.
- A type of lock is used in asymmetric encryption that is used with an encryption algorithm to convert the message to an unreadable format, whereas a lock used in asymmetric encryption is used with a decryption algorithm to convert the received message back to the original message.
- The public key is widely distributed. But, on the other hand, the private key is kept secret.
- Scalability, the system’s reliability, and speed are the main features of a private key, whereas Public key Loads monitoring tracks system sustainability.
- A private key is used in algorithms such as AES 128, AES 192, and AES 256. The public key is used in algorithms such as RSA, DSA, etc.
Comparison Table of Private Key vs Public Key
Now let’s draft the comparison in the table below
Sr. no. | Private Key | Public Key |
1. | Only one key is used. | Two keys are used. |
2. | The private key is faster than the public key. | Public Key is not Faster than the Private key. |
3 | The same algorithm and key is used for encrypting and decoding the message | Two keys are used in public-key cryptography, one for encryption and the other for decryption. |
4 | The key is kept as a password in private key encryption. | Each of the two keys is kept hidden in public-key cryptography. |
5 | The personal key is symmetric since only one key is known as a private key. | Asymmetric is the public key, so two types of keys exist: private and public. |
6 | The sender and receiver will use the same key in this encryption. | The sender and recipient do not have to use the same key in this encryption. |
7 | The key is secret in this cryptography. | The private key is private, and Public Key is public in this cryptography |
8 | It provides Testing controls the scalability, system’s reliability, and speed. | Public key Load monitoring tracks system sustainability. |
9 | The private key is used in algorithms such as AES 128, AES 192, and AES 256. | The public key is used in algorithms such as RSA, DSA, etc. |
Conclusion
The digital keys of the user are an essential element, for they allow many of the ownership features of many cryptographically secure systems to be found. The fact that the digital keys are not stored on those token networks is very important. Instead, digital token wallets, independent of the network, are stored and generated. Such keys are generated in pairs, which is a public and private key, as discussed above. The public key can be seen as an individual’s bank account, and the private key is the bank’s hidden PIN. So in this article, we have seen what the public key and private key are and the key differences between them.
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