Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

National Institute of Standards and Technology

doi:https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.FIPS.197

FIPS 197

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

Documentation Topics

Date Published: November 2001

Planning Note (12/16/2022):

This publication is currently under review by NIST's Crypto Publication Review Board.

A draft FIPS 197 update is now available for public comment, through February 13, 2023.

Author(s)

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Abstract

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) specifies a FIPS-approved cryptographic algorithm that can be used to protect electronic data. The AES algorithm is a symmetric block cipher that can encrypt (encipher) and decrypt (decipher) information. Encryption converts data to an unintelligible form called ciphertext; decrypting the ciphertext converts the data back into its original form, called plaintext. The AES algorithm is capable of using cryptographic keys of 128, 192, and 256 bits to encrypt and decrypt data in blocks of 128 bits.

Keywords

ciphertext; cryptographic algorithm; cryptographic keys; decryption; encryption; block cipher; algorithm

Control Families

System and Communications Protection

Documentation

Publication:
FIPS 197 (DOI)
Local Download

Supplemental Material:
Comments received on Draft FIPS 197 (2001) (pdf)

Related NIST Publications:
Journal Article
NISTIR 8319
Journal Article
Journal Article
White Paper

Document History:
11/26/01: FIPS 197 (Final)

Topics

Security and Privacy
encryption