The RC algorithms are a set of symmetric-key encryption algorithms invented by Ron Rivest. The "RC" may stand for either Rivest's cipher or, more informally, Ron's code.https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,1237,t=RC+algorithms&i=50212,00.asp Despite the similarity in their names, the algorithms are for the most part unrelated. There have been six RC algorithms so far:
RC1 was never published. RC2 was a 64-bit block cipher developed in 1987. RC3 was broken before ever being used. RC4 is a stream cipher. RC5 is a 32/64/128-bit block cipher developed in 1994. RC6, a 128-bit block cipher based heavily on RC5, was an AES finalist developed in 1997.
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