A cipher (pronounced SAI-fuhr) is any method of encrypting text (concealing its readability and meaning). It is also sometimes used to refer to the encrypted text message itself although here the term ciphertext is preferred. Its origin is the Arabic sifr, meaning empty or zero.
In addition to the cryptographic meaning, cipher also means: (1) Someone insignificant. (2) A combination of symbolic letters as in an entwined weaving of letters for a monogram.
A cipher (pronounced SAI-fuhr) is any method of encrypting text (concealing its readability and meaning). It is also sometimes used to refer to the encrypted text message itself although here the term ciphertext is preferred. Its origin is the Arabic sifr, meaning empty or zero.
In addition to the cryptographic meaning, cipher also means: (1) Someone insignificant. (2) A combination of symbolic letters as in an entwined weaving of letters for a monogram.
