Cryptography

Cryptography is an interdisciplinary subject, drawing from several fields. Older forms of cryptography were chiefly concerned with patterns in language. More recently, the emphasis has shifted, and cryptography makes extensive use of mathematics, particularly discrete mathematics, including topics from number theory, information theory, computational complexity, statistics and combinatorics. Cryptography is also considered a branch of engineering, but it is considered to be an unusual one as it deals with active, intelligent and malevolent opposition (see cryptographic engineering and security engineering). Cryptography is a tool used within computer and network security.

See also

• Topics in cryptography — an analytical list of articles and terms.
• Books on cryptography — an annotated list of suggested readings.
• List of cryptographers — an annotated list of cryptographers.
• Important publications in cryptography — some cryptography papers in computer science.
• Open problems in cryptography
• List of cryptography topics — an alphabetical list of cryptography articles.
• Snake oil