symmetric key cryptography (SKC)

Secure data transmission coding schemes (such as the Data Encryption Standard) which use only one digital key in both encoding and decoding a message. In contrast, asymmetric key cryptography (AKC) schemes (such as the Pretty Good Privacy) use two different digital keys, one for coding and the other for decoding. For optimum data security, both types are combined: first, AKC is used for authentication of the parties and transmission of the digital keys, thereafter SKC is used because of its comparatively low demand on the computer resources. Also called symmetric key encryption.