Image Encryption and Decryption

Digital images refer to images formed through digital technology, as opposed to traditional analog images. In modern applications, digital images have become extensively utilized, particularly in network communications, multimedia technology, and computer vision systems. The encryption and decryption processes for digital images serve as crucial technical measures for protecting image security and confidentiality. Encryption involves transforming digital images through computational algorithms to make them unreadable, with restoration possible only through specific cryptographic keys. Common implementation approaches include pixel permutation algorithms (like Arnold's cat map), diffusion operations using XOR with pseudorandom sequences, or AES/ DES block cipher modes adapted for image data. Decryption refers to the reverse computational process using corresponding keys to restore encrypted images to their readable original state. Key functions in typical implementations involve generating secure keys, applying transformation matrices, and performing inverse operations on pixel values. Therefore, the encryption-decryption pipeline constitutes a fundamental security mechanism for safeguarding digital images against unauthorized access.