How to decode a Caesar cipher?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking how to methodically break down and interpret a Caesar cipher, which is a type of substitution cipher. This involves understanding the basic principles of the cipher, such as shifting letters by a fixed number, and may include demonstrating the decoding process with examples.
Answer
Subtract the shift value from 26 and apply this shift to decode.
To decode a Caesar cipher, subtract the shift value from 26 and apply this new shift value to the encoded message to recover the original text.
Answer for screen readers
To decode a Caesar cipher, subtract the shift value from 26 and apply this new shift value to the encoded message to recover the original text.
More Information
The Caesar cipher is named after Julius Caesar, who used this encryption to protect his confidential communications. Decrypting it involves reversing the encoding shift.
Tips
A common mistake is forgetting to account for letters wrapping around if the shift moves past 'A'. Remember to use modulo arithmetic to handle this.
Sources
- Caesar cipher in Cryptography - GeeksforGeeks - geeksforgeeks.org
- Brilliant - Caesar Cipher - brilliant.org
