Computer Science for IGCSE & O level - Data Transmission (Section 3 - No. 47)

What is the difference between the "plaintext" and "ciphertext" in encryption?

Plaintext is the original data, and ciphertext is the encrypted data.

Ciphertext is the original data, and plaintext is the encrypted data.

Both are the encrypted data, but use different keys.

There is no difference; they are different names for the same data.

Plaintext is the readable, original form of the data, while ciphertext is the encrypted, unreadable form.