TestRep1Classical ciphers can be grouped into two categories: "Transposition Ciphers" and "Substitution Ciphers". I will first introduce you to the Transposition Ciphers.
Definition: In Transposition Ciphers plain letters are simply rearranged.
Example 1: Encode "MEETMEATNOON" below and explain how this particular Transposition Cipher works:
Related web sources:
Yahoo's Encryption & Security
Britannica.com
Dictionary.com
Glossary
PBS Online
Introduction to Cryptography
Enigma and the Codebreakers
Enigma History
Enigma Emulator
Plain text Cipher text A man a plan a canal Panama
amanaPlanacanalpanamA
Cipher text Plain text amanaPlanacanalpanamA
Notice that MEETMEATNOON becomes NOONTAEMTEEM. I am sure you saw that the letters were simply reversed. Notice that no letter was replaced, they were simply rearranged. This cipher is called the "Reverse Cipher". Reversing the letters is the simplest example of a transposition cipher: