Integer Factorization

Integer factorization is the process of breaking down a whole number into its prime components, which are the building blocks of all integers. For example, the number 12 can be factored into 3 and 4, and further into 3, 2, and 2 (since 4 is 2 x 2). This task becomes particularly challenging with large numbers, especially those used in cryptography, where security relies on the difficulty of factoring. Efficiently factoring large integers is a crucial problem in mathematics and computer science, impacting data encryption and online security systems.