Cipher

In the field of cryptography he term “Cipher” refers to the algorithm responsible for the encryption and the decryption of the information. The procedure is a series of well-defined steps. The alternative is a less common concept called “encipherment”. To encipher a code means to convert information into a cipher or a code. 

In layman’s terminology, a cipher is equated to code, given that both are a set of steps that encrypt a message. It must be noted however that these terms are exclusively being used by classical cryptography. 

Codes usually substitute different length strings of character within the output. Ciphers on the other hand, substitute the same amount of characters as with the input. Some cipher systems may use either more or fewer characters when the output is placed against the number of the output.