Cryptogram

A "cryptogram" is a puzzle cipher that involves deciphering a piece of encrypted text. Typically a cryptogram is for recreational purposes such as cryptograms found in newpapers, puzzle books and online communities. The most common type of cryptogram is a substitution cipher. Here is the Substitution Cipher page.

There are many types of cryptograms. This Cipher Identifier Tool will help you identify which type of cryptogram you are dealing with. The American Cryptogram Association has a comprehensive list of types of cryptograms.

Most common types of cryptograms:

Simple Substitution Cipher (monoalphabetic substitution cipher)

The most popular type of cryptogram. Each letter of the alphabet is replaced by a single different letter, number, or symbol. Punctuation and spacing often remain unchanged, providing clues to the solver. Try the Substitution Cipher Tool.

Caesar Cipher

Arguably the oldest recorded type of substitution cipher, where each letter is shifted by a certain number of positions in the alphabet (for example, shifting “A” by 3 results in “D,” “B” becomes “E,” and so on). While not always used in puzzle cryptograms directly, the Caesar shift is foundational to understanding substitution ciphers. Try the Caesar Cipher Tool.

Vigenère Cipher

A polyalphabetic cipher that uses a keyword to create multiple Caesar shifts throughout the message. Though commonly studied in cryptography, it can appear in some advanced cryptogram puzzles—though it’s more complex than the typical letter-substitution cryptograms found in puzzle sections. Try the Vigenère Cipher Tool.

Columnar Transposition Cipher

A columnar transposition cipher is a classical cryptographic method that reorders the letters of a message by writing them into a grid (or table) column by column and then reading them off in a different columnar order dictated by a key. While it may not be as commonly encountered in puzzle cryptograms (which usually involve direct letter substitutions), the columnar transposition cipher is still one of the fundamental historical ciphers and offers a good introduction to the idea of transposition. Try the Columnar Transposition Cipher Tool.

Fun Facts

• The famous writer Edgar Allan Poe was fascinated by ciphers. He wrote about cryptograms and even invited readers to send him secret messages that he would try to decode.
• The most common letter in English is “E,” followed closely by “T,” “A,” and “O.” Cryptogram solvers often start by looking at single-letter words (“A” or “I”), short words (“an,” “in,” “to,” “of,” etc.), and the frequency of specific letters to gain a foothold.
• The “Kryptos” sculpture at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, includes an unbroken encoded section that continues to tantalize both amateur and professional cryptanalysts.
• In the world of geocaching (an outdoor treasure-hunt game using geo-coordinates), mystery puzzle caches often require participants to solve cryptograms to reveal the GPS coordinates. It adds a mental challenge on top of the physical search for hidden containers.

Sample Cryptogram

Code-breaking is not only fun, but also a very good exercise for your brain and cognitive skills. Why not try your cipher solving skills on this sample crypto?

dxaqf icq peizc eh d pdegehb fqxwderehb uyezq yo zynrxq hyi dhxpqrqf fyryics cyp xcyngf e pqgg eh d oqp vehniqx e xcdgg jq dgg vqgiqf dhf syn pegg cduq icq zdxigq iy synrxqgo