Does asymmetric encryption use a single key for both encryption and decryption?

Asymmetric encryption is designed to use two distinct keys: a public key and a private key. The public key is used for encryption, while the private key is used for decryption. This key pair functionality is critical for ensuring security in transmission. Since one key is used to encrypt the data and a different key is then used to decrypt it, it avoids the vulnerabilities associated with symmetric encryption, which relies on a single key for both processes.

By employing two keys, asymmetric encryption allows anyone to encrypt a message using the public key, but only the holder of the corresponding private key can decrypt it. This enhances the security of communications, particularly in environments where secure key sharing is challenging. In summary, asymmetric encryption does not use a single key for both encryption and decryption; instead, it utilizes two keys, which is why the statement is false.