Cipher

secret codes · cryptography · puzzles

Secret scrambler. A cipher is like a special recipe for mixing up information so spies or sneaky people can't read your private messages. Different ciphers use different rules, kind of like how each magic trick uses its own special moves.

Steps to follow. A cipher is really just a list of clear, step-by-step instructions that anyone can follow to hide a message or unlock a hidden one. It's like following a recipe, but instead of making cookies, you're making secrets unreadable.

Key to unlock it. Both the person sending a secret message and the person receiving it need to know the same cipher rules so they can understand each other. It's like having a special language that only your best friend knows.

Not quite a code. While people often mix up the words cipher and code, they're actually different in real cryptography. A cipher scrambles individual letters and numbers, while a code replaces whole words or ideas with new symbols.