Kerckhoffs's principle

proper noun

The idea that a cryptosystem should be designed to be secure, even if everything about the system, except the secret key, is public knowledge.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. computingThe idea that a cryptosystem should be designed to be secure, even if everything about the system, except the secret key, is public knowledge.

Origin

Named after Dutch linguist and cryptographer Auguste Kerckhoffs (1835–1903).

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Cite this entry
APA

Kerckhoffs's principle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kerckhoffs's%20principle

MLA

“Kerckhoffs's principle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kerckhoffs's%20principle. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Kerckhoffs's principle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kerckhoffs's%20principle.

Source: Kerckhoffs's principle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.