What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption?

Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encrypting and decrypting data. It is faster and suitable for large volumes of data.

Asymmetric encryption uses a pair of keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. The public key can be accessible to everyone, while the private key is kept secret. It is used for secure key exchange and digital signatures. Its speed is lower than symmetric encryption.

Main differences:

Characteristic	Symmetric Encryption	Asymmetric Encryption
Number of keys	One	Two (public and private)
Speed	High	Low
Application	Data encryption	Key exchange, digital signatures
Key distribution	Complex	Simple (for public key)

Examples of algorithms:

Symmetric: AES, DES, 3DES. Asymmetric: RSA, ECC.

Often, a hybrid approach is used in real scenarios: asymmetric encryption for secure exchange of the symmetric key, followed by symmetric encryption for encrypting the main data volume.