For example, a file encryption key exists in plaintext form only during actual encryption and/or decryption processing of a file.
Reading from left to right, you should be able to see the plaintext message.
Knowing how often letters are used can help you guess which cipher letter equals which plaintext letter.
Encryption transforms the plaintext data into an unreadable form, called ciphertext, using an encryption key.
plaintext may be encrypted several times and then decrypted the same number of times with the same key and result in plaintext.
Decryption is the process of converting the ciphertext back into plaintext.
plaintext in Technology
cryptography A message before encryption or after decryption, i.e. in its usual form which anyone can read, as opposed to its encrypted form ("ciphertext"). (1995-05-10)