What type of encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption?

Symmetrical encryption is characterized by the use of a single key for both the encryption and decryption processes. This means that the same key is shared between the sender and the receiver. It allows for efficient and fast processing, making it suitable for encrypting large amounts of data.

In symmetrical encryption, the security and confidentiality of the data depend on how well the key is protected. If the key is compromised, an unauthorized party can easily decrypt the data.

As opposed to this, asymmetrical encryption relies on a pair of keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. Hashing, on the other hand, generates a fixed-size string of characters from an input data set and is not reversible, meaning it does not encrypt data for confidentiality but is rather used for data integrity. Tokenization replaces sensitive data with unique identifiers (tokens) but does not involve traditional encryption methods.

Thus, symmetrical encryption is distinct in its use of the same key for both processes, making it an important concept in understanding encryption methods within cybersecurity.