Definition:Trapdoor Function
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Definition
A trapdoor function is a mapping $f$ which is:
- for a given $x$ in the domain of $f$ is easy to calculate
- for a given $y$ in the image of $f$ is hard to calculate unless a specific piece of information $t$ is supplied, in which case it is easy.
That piece of information is known as the trapdoor.
Historical Note
The concept of a trapdoor function was invented by Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman in $1975$.
Sources
- 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): '$..........$'
- 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): '$..........$'