Which cryptographic method is faster?

Symmetric cryptography is faster than asymmetric cryptography because it uses a single shared key for both encryption and decryption processes. This approach allows for simpler and more efficient mathematical operations, which results in quicker execution times when processing large volumes of data. In symmetric algorithms, the same key is used for both encrypting and decrypting the information, making it less computationally intensive compared to asymmetric algorithms, which rely on key pairs (public and private keys) and more complex mathematical operations.

As a result of this efficiency, symmetric cryptography is typically employed for bulk data encryption, while asymmetric cryptography is often used for securely exchanging keys or establishing secure sessions. This distinction in performance and application highlights why symmetric cryptography is considered the faster method in cryptographic practices.