cipher

Nothing, or code

A cipher is a code—a system for converting readable text into disguised form, or the disguised text itself.

Breaking a cipher means decoding it.

Extended from secrecy to nothingness: a cipher can be zero, and calling someone a cipher suggests they lack personality or significance: He was a mere cipher in the organization.

To cipher is an old-fashioned way of saying to do arithmetic.

cryptography

encryption

Converting data into code

decryptionConverting ciphertext to plaintext
keyLock-opening device
plaintextUnencoded readable information

cryptanalysis · AES · RSA · DES · symmetric · asymmetric · algorithm · hashing · SSL · TLS

code

secret code

Encrypted communication system

decodeConvert from cipher
encodeConvert to cipher
messageTransmitted communication

communication · spy · intelligence · codebreaker · Bletchley Park · signal · intercept · codebook · cryptogram · hidden message

mystery

enigma

Something hard to fathom

puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
riddlePuzzling question to solve
conundrumPerplexing problem or question

cryptic · inscrutable · arcane · unknown · hidden meaning · secret · obscure · veiled · mysterious · indecipherable

zero

nothing

Not any thing

nullAbsence indicator in code
naughtNothing at all
nilNothing whatsoever

nonentity · nobody · insignificance · worthlessness · empty · void · zilch · goose egg · placeholder · numeral

symbol

character

Nature, symbol, or role

glyphVisual form of character
numeralSymbol denoting quantity
digitSingle numeric character

letter · notation · hieroglyph · rune · monogram · inscription · writing system · alphanumeric · text

cipher

encryption

secret code

enigma

nothing

character

cipher

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family