✅ You Know When to Encrypt & When to Hash
Master the two pillars of cryptography and their blockchain applications
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Real-World Applications
🎓 Key Takeaways
Let's review the essential concepts you've learned about encryption and hashing!
🔐
Encryption
- •Reversible: Can decrypt with the right key
- •Requires Keys: Symmetric (1 key) or Asymmetric (2 keys)
- •Purpose: Confidentiality and privacy
- •Use When: You need original data back
- •Examples: HTTPS, messaging, wallets
👆
Hashing
- •One-Way: Cannot reverse to get original
- •No Keys Needed: Same input always = same hash
- •Purpose: Data integrity and unique IDs
- •Use When: Verify data hasn't changed
- •Examples: Block linking, TX IDs, passwords
🔗
In Blockchain: Both Work Together
🔐 Encryption Uses:
- • Wallet private keys (AES-256)
- • Transaction signatures (ECDSA)
- • Proving ownership
👆 Hashing Uses:
- • Linking blocks (previous hash)
- • Transaction IDs (SHA-256)
- • Mining (Proof of Work)
- • Merkle trees
🧠 Critical Properties to Remember
⚡
Avalanche Effect
Change 1 bit in input → ~50% of hash bits flip
🎯
Collision Resistance
Computationally impossible to find two inputs with same hash
🔑
Key Management
Encryption security depends on keeping keys secret
🎯
Test Your Knowledge!
Ready to put your understanding to the test? Take this 5-question quiz to see how well you've mastered encryption vs hashing!