Q: Contrast Symmetric and Asymmetric encryption, and explain when you would use each.

Typical Use Case: They are almost always used together. Asymmetric encryption is used briefly at the start of a connection to securely exchange a temporary Symmetric key, which is then used for the fast, bulk data transfer (this is exactly how HTTPS/TLS works).

• Symmetric Encryption (e.g., AES) uses the *exact same key* to both encrypt and decrypt data. It is extremely fast and computationally cheap, making it perfect for encrypting large volumes of data (like files on a hard drive or massive network payloads). However, securely sharing that single key across the internet is difficult.
• Asymmetric Encryption (e.g., RSA) uses a mathematically linked *pair of keys* (Public to encrypt, Private to decrypt). It solves the key-sharing problem because you can distribute the Public key freely. However, the complex math makes it extremely slow and CPU-intensive.