key pair
nounverified·updated May 9, 2026
Two mathematically related keys having the properties that (1) one key can be used to encrypt a message that can only be decrypted using the other key, and 2) even knowing one key, it is computationally infeasible to discover the other key.
polysemousMWENISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2
Senses
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) Cybersecurity Lexiconextended definition available
A public key and its corresponding private key.
NISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2sense 2 pending review
A public key and its corresponding private key; a key pair is used with a public key algorithm.
Classifications
Entity Type
Credential92%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
?unassignedlast reviewed —
Sensitivity
Restricted85%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
?unassignedlast reviewed —
Information Class
—60%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
?unassignedlast reviewed —
Variants
- plural
- key pairs
- possessive
- key pair's
- pluralpossessive
- key pairs'