block cipher

A block cipher is a method used in digital security to encode data. It takes a chunk of information, called a block, and transforms it into a scrambled version using a secret key, making it unreadable without the key. This process ensures that sensitive information, like messages or files, remains private during storage or transmission. The same key can be used to decode the data back to its original form. Block ciphers are widely used in encryption standards to protect data from unauthorized access, providing confidentiality and security in digital communications.