> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/decrypt.md).

# Decrypt

Decrypts a provided encoded encrypted string using the specified algorithm and key

## Method Signature

```
Decrypt(string=[string], key=[string], algorithm=[string], encoding=[string], IVorSalt=[any], iterations=[integer], precise=[boolean])
```

### Arguments

| Argument     | Type      | Required | Description                                                                                                                    | Default |
| ------------ | --------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------- |
| `string`     | `string`  | `true`   | The encrypted string to decrypt                                                                                                |         |
| `key`        | `string`  | `true`   | The string representation of the secret key to use for encryption ( see generateSecretKey() )                                  |         |
| `algorithm`  | `string`  | `false`  | The algorithm to use for encryption. Default is AES                                                                            |         |
| `encoding`   | `string`  | `false`  | The encoding type to use for encoding the encrypted data. Default is Base64                                                    | `UU`    |
| `IVorSalt`   | `any`     | `false`  | The initialization vector or salt to use for encryption.                                                                       |         |
| `iterations` | `integer` | `false`  | The number of iterations to use for encryption. Default is 1000                                                                | `1000`  |
| `precise`    | `boolean` | `false`  | If set to true, the string and key will be validated before encryption to ensure conformity to the algorithm. Default is false | `false` |

## Examples

### Encrypt and Decrypt a Secret

Generate an AES 128 bit key and then use it to encrypt and decrypt a secret.

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLrVCwVaiuteZKrdDzdo0EctJT81KLEktSg1OTi1JLvFMrNRSUHF2DlRQ0wYqCXZ2DXEOA6pRK8gsUisGKlMAyrn7OQZEBIa4uQMnUvOSiyoISDQW4Dh0FiA06ENOAlFNicaqZCcxcF1eE7pRUhG64qXgNKC%2FKLEl1Kc0tAOkBCQAA8t497g%3D%3D)

```java
ex = {};
ex.KEY = generateSecretKey( "AES" );
ex.SECRET = "top secret";
ex.ENCRYPTED = encrypt( ex.SECRET, ex.KEY, "AES", "Base64" );
ex.DECRYPTED = decrypt( ex.ENCRYPTED, ex.KEY, "AES", "Base64" );
writeDump( ex );

```

### Additional Examples

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJzLTq1UsFVIT81LLUosSQ1OTS5KLfFOrdRQUHLy8Q938wz2UFLQtOYqSS0ucc1LLqosKAEqT4WwgIqKE9NS4%2FNLi%2BJLilJTlXQUslMrdZC0AtlJicWpZiZwQ1xSYYakpEINQTKbgAHlRZklqS6luQUQTTCzgDIAOTM%2FrQ%3D%3D)

```java
key = generateSecretKey( "BLOWFISH" );
testEncrypt = encrypt( "safe_our_tree", key, "BLOWFISH", "base64" );
testDecrypt = decrypt( testEncrypt, key, "BLOWFISH", "base64" );
writeDump( testDecrypt );

```

## Related

* [DecryptBinary](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/decryptbinary.md)
* [Encrypt](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/encrypt.md)
* [EncryptBinary](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/encryptbinary.md)
* [GeneratePBKDFKey](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/generatepbkdfkey.md)
* [GenerateSecretKey](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/generatesecretkey.md)
* [Hash](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/hash.md)
* [Hash40](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/hash40.md)
* [Hmac](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/hmac.md)


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