Plaintext

Plaintext, also known as cleartext, is usable data. It is data either before encryption or after successful decryption.

Ciphertext

Ciphertext is encrypted data. Plaintext can not be deduced from properly encrypted ciphertext.

Here is a brief message in ciphertext:

pgAAADP1wJU8OtQgiOPV9b+EyS6Iz6acuGAKrm1 GEcI4eJJolT68cOb1H/o/PxZ8 nYIs0UupT+0= =7mu0

Encryption and Decryption

Encryption is the process of turning plaintext into ciphertext.

Decryption is the process of turning ciphertext into plaintext.

Cryptographic Attacks Using Plaintext and Ciphertext

A cryptanalyst in possession of a piece of plaintext and the resulting ciphertext can attempt to mount a known plaintext attack.

A cryptanalyst in who possesses only the ciphertext can attempt the more difficult known ciphertext attack.