Symmetric Key Encryption Asymmetric Key Encryption

It only requires a single key for both It requires two key one to
encryption and decryption. encrypt and the other one to
decrypt.

The size of cipher text is same or The size of cipher text is same
smaller than the original plain text. or larger than the original plain
text.

The encryption process is very fast. The encryption process is slow.

It is used when a large amount of It is used to transfer small

data is required to transfer. amount of data.

It only provides confidentiality. It provides confidentiality,

authenticity and non-
repudiation.

Examples: 3DES, AES, DES and Examples: Diffie-Hellman, ECC,

RC4 El Gamal, DSA and RSA

In symmetric key encryption, In asymmetric key encryption,

resource utilization is low as resource utilization is high
compared to asymmetric key
encryption.

Cryptanalysis is the study of ciphertext, ciphers and cryptosystems with the aim of understanding how
they work and finding and improving techniques for defeating or weakening them. For example,
cryptanalysts seek to decrypt ciphertexts without knowledge of the plaintext source, encryption key or
the algorithm used to encrypt it; cryptanalysts also target secure hashing, digital signatures and other
cryptographic algorithms.

Both Block Cipher and Stream Cipher are belongs to the symmetric key cipher. These two block cipher
and stream cipher are the methods used for converting the plain text into cipher text.
The main difference between Block cipher and Stream cipher is that block cipher converts Converts the
plain text into cipher text by taking plain text’s block at a time. While stream cipher Converts the plain text
into cipher text by taking 1 byte of plain text at a time.
S.NO Block Cipher Stream Cipher

1. Block Cipher Stream Cipher Converts the plain text into cipher
Converts the plain text by taking 1 byte of plain text at a time.
text into cipher text
by taking plain text’s
block at a time.

2. Block cipher uses While stream cipher uses 8 bits.

either 64 bits or
more than 64 bits.

3. The complexity of While stream cipher is more complex.

block cipher is
simple.

4. Block cipher Uses While stream cipher uses only confusion.

confusion as well as
diffusion.

5. In block cipher, While in stream cipher, reverse encrypted text is

reverse encrypted easy.
 text is hard.

6. The algorithm The algorithm modes which are used in stream

modes which are cipher are: CFB (Cipher Feedback) and OFB
used in block cipher (Output Feedback).
are: ECB (Electronic
Code Book) and
CBC (Cipher Block
Chaining).

7. Block cipher works While stream cipher works on substitution

on transposition techniques like rail-fence technique, columnar
techniques like transposition technique, etc.
Caesar cipher,
polygram
substitution cipher,
etc.

8. Block cipher is slow While stream cipher is fast in comparison to block

as compared to cipher.
stream cipher.