Plaintext

When translating a code, the information that is being communicated from one party to another is called “text.” When that information is not encrypted, it is called “plaintext.” The Icarus Cipher is specifically crafted to be used to encrypt text written in contemporary English.

For example, if Party A wants to give Party B information about a meeting, they may want to encrypt the sentence “Meet us at the administrative building.” This is written in plaintext. When encrypting information, a party always starts with plaintext before using the code, and when decrypting information, a party always ends with plaintext after using the code.

To use the Icarus Cipher to encrypt information, plaintext must be translated to another type of text, called “midtext,” before being translated again into ciphertext.