Return to Glossary

Cryptographic Key ¹⁾ is a parameter used in conjunction with a Cryptographic Algorithm that determines its operation in such a way that an entity with knowledge of the key can reproduce, reverse or verify the operation while an entity without knowledge of the Cryptographic Key, cannot.

Examples include:

1. The transformation of Plaintext data into Ciphertext data,
2. The transformation of Ciphertext data into Plaintext data,
3. The computation of a Digital Signature from data,
4. The verification of a Digital Signature on data,
5. The computation of an Authentication Code from data,
6. The verification of an Authentication Code from data and a received or retrieved authentication code, and
7. The computation of a shared secret that is used to derive keying material.

Source: https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-57pt1r5.pdf