Glossary
No resource would be complete without a comprehensive glossary of terms. We’ve compiled a list of terms and their definitions to better help you navigate.
Key pair A private key and its corresponding public key. The public key can verify a digital signature created by using the corresponding private key. See private key and public key.
Key interval The period for which a cryptographic key remains active.
Key generator (1) An algorithm that uses mathematical or heuristic rules to deterministically produce a pseudo-random sequence of cryptographic key values. (2) An encryption device that incorporates a key generation mechanism and applies the key to plaintext (for example, by Boolean exclusive ORing the key bit string with the plain text bit string) to produce ciphertext.
Key generation The trustworthy process of creating a private key/public key pair. The public key is supplied to an issuing authority during the certificate application process.
