The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely used method for encrypting data with the same secret key for locking and unlocking. It works on fixed-size blocks of data and supports key sizes of 128, 192 and 256 bits. You will find it in Wi-Fi (WPA2/WPA3), VPNs, web encryption (TLS) and full-disk encryption. Security depends on how AES is used, not just on the cipher itself. Modes like GCM and CCM provide encryption and integrity checks, while CBC and CTR give only confidentiality and must use a fresh, unpredictable IV or nonce each time. ECB should be avoided because it reveals patterns. Many CPUs include hardware support (such as AES-NI) to make AES both fast and secure when implemented correctly. With good keys, correct modes and careful coding, AES remains a trusted choice for protecting data today.
