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rewrite header and note on Usage and terminology

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Tammi L. Coles 2023-10-13 15:34:45 +02:00 committed by Heiko Schaefer
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book/source/03-cryptography.md
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@ -97,16 +97,14 @@ It's important to note that in many scenarios, only the public key is exposed or
The public component of an asymmetric key pair
```
### Public-key cryptography in OpenPGP
### Usage and terminology in OpenPGP
OpenPGP makes heavy use of public-key cryptography, both for encryption and signing operations.
OpenPGP extensively uses public-key cryptography for encryption and digital signing operations.
```{admonition} Terminology
:class: note
For historical reasons, the OpenPGP RFC and other documentation often use the non-standard term "secret key" instead of the more common "private key."
So in OpenPGP, the pair of terms "public/secret key" is sometimes used instead of the more common "public/private key."
OpenPGP documentation, including the foundational RFC, opts for the term "secret key" over the more commonly used "private key." As a result, you'll encounter the "public/secret key" pairing more frequently than "public/private key." But don't worry; "secret key" and "private key" serve the same purpose in cryptographic operations. This terminology reflects historical preferences in the OpenPGP community, not a difference in technology.
```
### Cryptographic digital signatures