A stream cipher is a type of encryption algorithm that encrypts data one bit or byte at a time.
Unlike block ciphers, which divide data into fixed-size blocks for encryption, stream ciphers operate on individual units of plaintext and produce a corresponding stream of ciphertext in real-time.
Stream ciphers are particularly useful for applications where a continuous stream of data needs to be encrypted and decrypted efficiently, such as real-time communication protocols and secure streaming.
One of the key advantages of stream ciphers is their simplicity and speed, making them suitable for scenarios where low-latency encryption is required.
However, it is important to choose a strong and secure stream cipher and ensure that the encryption keys are well-protected to maintain the confidentiality of the data.