DATA ENCRYPTION STANDARD
The Data Encryption Standard (DES) is a symmetric-key block cipher published by the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
DES is an implementation of a Feistel Cipher.
o No of rounds = 16
o The block size = 64 bits
o Key size = 56 bits
General Structure of DES is depicted in the following illustration −
Since DES is based on the Feistel Cipher, all that is required to specify DES is −
Round function
Key schedule
Any additional processing − Initial and final permutation
Initial and Final Permutation
The initial and final permutations are straight Permutation boxes (P-boxes) that are inverses of
each other. They have no cryptography significance in DES. The initial and final permutations
are shown as follows −
Round Function
The heart of this cipher is the DES function, f. The DES function applies a 48-bit key to the
rightmost 32 bits to produce a 32-bit output.
Expansion Permutation Box − Since right input is 32-bit and round key is a 48-bit, we
first need to expand right input to 48 bits. Permutation logic is graphically depicted in
the following illustration −
The graphically depicted permutation logic is generally described as table in DES
specification illustrated as shown −
XOR (Whitener). − After the expansion permutation, DES does XOR operation on the
expanded right section and the round key. The round key is used only in this operation.
Substitution Boxes. − The S-boxes carry out the real mixing (confusion). DES uses 8 S-
boxes, each with a 6-bit input and a 4-bit output. Refer the following illustration −
The S-box rule is illustrated below −
There are a total of eight S-box tables. The output of all eight s-boxes is then combined
in to 32 bit section.
Straight Permutation − The 32 bit output of S-boxes is then subjected to the straight
permutation with rule shown in the following illustration:
Key Generation
The round-key generator creates sixteen 48-bit keys out of a 56-bit cipher key. The process of
key generation is depicted in the following illustration −
The logic for Parity drop, shifting, and Compression P-box is given in the DES description.
DES Analysis
The DES satisfies both the desired properties of block cipher. These two properties make cipher
very strong.
Avalanche effect − A small change in plaintext results in the very great change in the
ciphertext.
Completeness − Each bit of ciphertext depends on many bits of plaintext.
