What is the Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) Encryption Algorithm?

RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) is a critical encryption algorithm for widespread public key cryptography use. Named after its three creators, Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir, and Leonard Adleman, the RSA uses asymmetric key pairs with a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. It provides ample protection against brute-force attacks and is used primarily for secure communication, digital signatures, and key exchange protocols.