GF(p^n)

GF(p^n), or Galois Field, is a mathematical system consisting of a finite set of elements where addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division (except by zero) are always possible and follow specific rules. It is constructed using a prime number p raised to the power n, creating a field with p^n elements. Think of it as a structured set of numbers that behave like regular arithmetic but with a limited, finite collection of elements—useful in coding theory, cryptography, and error correction. When n=1, GF(p) is just the familiar set of integers modulo p.