Trapdoor Function Avoidance

Definition ∞ Trapdoor Function Avoidance refers to the design principle in cryptography where algorithms are constructed without relying on trapdoor functions. Trapdoor functions are easy to compute in one direction but difficult to reverse without a specific piece of secret information. Avoiding them often leads to different security assumptions or alternative cryptographic constructions. This approach is sometimes preferred for certain post-quantum cryptographic schemes.
Context ∞ The state of Trapdoor Function Avoidance is a significant consideration in the development of new cryptographic primitives, especially those resistant to quantum attacks. Key discussions involve exploring alternative mathematical problems whose hardness does not depend on trapdoors, such as those found in lattice-based cryptography. A critical future development includes the formal evaluation and standardization of these non-trapdoor-based cryptographic schemes for widespread secure communication.