Crypt::Cipher::RC2(3)

💖 Crypt::Cipher::RC2(3) 💖

Okay so hi bestie! You're on the Crypt::Cipher::RC2(3) page from User Contributed Perl Documentation, and it's giving crypto manual but make it cute. We're talking Crypt::Cipher::RC2 — the symmetric cipher RC2, key size: 40-1024 bits. No cap, that's the whole title vibe.

🌸 NAME 🌸

Crypt::Cipher::RC2 — Symmetric cipher RC2, key size: 40-1024 bits.

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

Two examples, both iconic. Example 2 is literally labeled slower, so you know the vibe:

### example 1
use Crypt::Mode::CBC;

my $key = '...'; # length must be a valid key size for this cipher
my $iv = '...';  # 16 bytes
my $cbc = Crypt::Mode::CBC->new('RC2');
my $ciphertext = $cbc->encrypt("secret data", $key, $iv);

### example 2 (slower)
use Crypt::CBC;
use Crypt::Cipher::RC2;

my $key = '...'; # length must be a valid key size for this cipher
my $iv = '...';  # 16 bytes
my $cbc = Crypt::CBC->new( -cipher=>'Cipher::RC2', -key=>$key, -iv=>$iv );
my $ciphertext = $cbc->encrypt("secret data");

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

This module implements the RC2 cipher. Its interface is compatible with Crypt::CBC.

Note: This module only implements single-block encryption and decryption. For general data, use a block mode such as Crypt::Mode::CBC, Crypt::Mode::CTR, or Crypt::CBC (which is slower).

Like, it's single-block only, bestie — for general data you grab a block mode. The Crypt::CBC one is slower, fyi. 💅

🎀 METHODS 🎀

Unless noted otherwise, assume $c is an existing cipher object created via new, for example:

my $c = Crypt::Cipher::RC2->new($key);

💅 new 💅

Make a new cipher object, bestie. Two forms:

my $c = Crypt::Cipher::RC2->new($key);
#or
my $c = Crypt::Cipher::RC2->new($key, $rounds);

# $key .... [binary string] key of an accepted length (see keysize, min_keysize, max_keysize)
# $rounds . [integer] optional, number of rounds (if supported by the cipher; croaks on invalid value)

So $key is a [binary string] key of an accepted length (check keysize, min_keysize, max_keysize). $rounds is an optional [integer] number of rounds, if the cipher supports it — and it croaks on an invalid value, so don't test it 🙈.

🔥 encrypt 🔥

Encrypts exactly one block of plaintext. The length of $plaintext must equal blocksize; it croaks otherwise. An empty string is accepted and returned unchanged.

my $ciphertext = $c->encrypt($plaintext);

Returns the encrypted block as a binary string (raw bytes). Raw bytes, periodt.

🌈 decrypt 🌈

Decrypts exactly one block of ciphertext. The length of $ciphertext must equal blocksize; it croaks otherwise. An empty string is accepted and returned unchanged.

my $plaintext = $c->decrypt($ciphertext);

Returns the decrypted block as a binary string (raw bytes).

👑 keysize 👑

Just an alias for max_keysize. That's it, that's the whole method.

$c->keysize;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2->keysize;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2::keysize;

⭐ blocksize ⭐

Returns the cipher block size (in bytes).

$c->blocksize;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2->blocksize;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2::blocksize;

🧚 max_keysize 🧚

Returns the maximum key size (in bytes).

$c->max_keysize;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2->max_keysize;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2::max_keysize;

💜 min_keysize 💜

Returns the minimum key size (in bytes).

$c->min_keysize;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2->min_keysize;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2::min_keysize;

🍓 default_rounds 🍓

Returns the cipher's default round count.

$c->default_rounds;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2->default_rounds;
#or
Crypt::Cipher::RC2::default_rounds;

🫶 SEE ALSO 🫶

• CryptX, Crypt::Cipher
• <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RC2>

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Okay that's the whole manual, bestie. Signing off with the footer tea: perl v5.42.0, dated 2026-05-11. Stay encrypted and stay iconic 💖✨