Visual guides to cryptographic algorithms, designed to make complex security concepts more accessible and understandable.
Block cipher encryption process visualization.
Visual breakdown of the AES encryption process showing the four main transformations: SubBytes (substitution via S-box lookup table), ShiftRows (permutation by shifting rows), MixColumns (mixing columns through polynomial multiplication in GF(2⁸), and AddRoundKey (XOR with round key). Illustrates the round structure for different key sizes (128-bit: 10 rounds, 192-bit: 12 rounds, 256-bit: 14 rounds) and the key expansion process using shifts, 8-bit polynomial arithmetic, and exclusive OR operations.
Educational cipher demonstrating DES principles.
Complete walkthrough of Simplified DES encryption demonstrating all stages: Initial Permutation (IP), the Feistel structure with 16 rounds, the Mangler Function (expansion permutation, S-box substitution, P-box permutation), and Final Permutation. Includes detailed subkey generation algorithm showing permutation P10, circular shifts (LS-1), P8 transformations, and how the 10-bit master key produces subkeys K1 and K2. Shows a concrete example with plaintext (00111110), key (1011000110), and resulting ciphertext, with step-by-step transformations through the entire algorithm.
These illustrations are created to help students, developers, and security enthusiasts understand how cryptographic algorithms work at a conceptual level. Each diagram emphasizes clarity and accuracy while remaining accessible to those learning cryptography.
Feel free to use these illustrations for educational purposes, presentations, or documentation with proper attribution.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
