What is the key difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms?

The key difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption algorithms lies in the keys used for encryption and decryption processes.

1. Symmetric Encryption: In symmetric encryption, the same key is used for both the encryption of the plaintext and the decryption of the ciphertext. The key must be known to both the sender and the receiver. The main advantage of symmetric encryption is that it is faster than asymmetric encryption. However, the key distribution is a challenge because it must be done in a secure way to prevent interception by third parties.

2. Asymmetric Encryption: In asymmetric encryption, two different keys are used for the encryption and decryption processes. One key (public key) is used for encryption and the other key (private key) is used for decryption. The public key is known to