Playfair Cipher Examples
These playfair encryption examples show square construction and digraph logic. Cross-check rules on the Playfair guide and decoder walkthrough.
Example: build the square with MONARCH
Write keyword MONARCH without duplicates, fill remaining letters A–Z skipping used letters, merging I/J into one cell. The resulting 5×5 grid is the reference for all digraph transforms in this example set.
Example: encrypt a digraph
Take plaintext pair ET. Locate E and T in the square. If they form a rectangle, replace with letters at opposite corners (rule details depend on row/column cases—same row uses letters to the right, same column uses letters below).
Students should trace coordinates on paper; automated checkers will arrive with a future Playfair tool.
Example: doubles and padding
Plaintext BALLOON becomes BA LX LO ON with X inserted between the double L. Decoders must strip padding X after decryption when it was inserted only for pairing.
- Keyword
- MONARCH
- Technique
- 5×5 digraph square
- Learn
- Pair rules on playfair-cipher.html
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical Playfair example keyword?
MONARCH and PLAYFAIR appear in textbooks for square construction demos.
Do Playfair examples use numbers?
Classical Playfair is A–Z; digits are usually removed or spelled out.
Where can I encrypt Playfair online?
Use this page to learn; Cipher Portal covers Caesar, Vigenère, Rail Fence, and substitution today.
How do examples relate to the decoder page?
Examples show forward construction; the decoder page explains the inverse path.
Master digraph rules here, then open Cipher Portal for ciphers with live encryption.