Mechanisms

MECHANISMS EXPLAINED

  • A step by step procedure for solving a problem

  • An algorithm is a sequence of well-defined steps required to carry out a technique - it could be written in plain English.

  • Detecting/correcting errors is primarily an algorithm (e.g. Luhn algorithm for credit cards - there's a list here)

  • Cryptography is a strong mixture of algorithms (e.g. RSA , Diffie-Hellman, DES, AES...)

  • An algorithm takes some input and uses mathematics and logic to produce the output

  • A method for accomplishing a desired aim

  • A technique is a way of doing something

  • A way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure.

Protocols are followed by sites to ensure that they are safe and trustworthy.

  • A set of conventions or rules

  • Protocols are the instructions for two devices to talk to each other.

Protocol (object-oriented programming), a common means for unrelated objects to communicate with each other (sometimes also called interfaces; related to duck typing).

Communication protocol, a defined set of rules and regulations that determine how data is transmitted in telecommunications and computer networking


A series of steps followed in a regular order, an established way of doing things

A procedure is the computer code that carries out the algorithm or part of an algorithm (and can have different meanings in terms of function, subroutine etc).