symmetric and asymmetric encryption

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both locking (encrypting) and unlocking (decrypting) information, making it efficient but requiring both sender and receiver to securely share the key. Asymmetric encryption employs a pair of keys: a public key to encrypt data and a private key to decrypt it. This method enhances security since the private key remains secret, even if the public key is widely shared. In summary, symmetric encryption is faster but needs secure key sharing, while asymmetric encryption offers improved security at the cost of being more computationally intensive.