ADFGVX Cipher

Use a keyed ADFGVX square with letters and digits, then apply keyed columnar transposition.

Keys

ADFGVX uses a full 6x6 square labelled A D F G V X, so it can encode both letters and digits before applying a columnar transposition keyword.

Square sequence

Must resolve to 36 unique symbols using only A-Z and 0-9.

Transposition keyword

Columns are read in sorted key order. Duplicate key letters keep their original left-to-right order.

ADFGVX square

Square sequence None

Column key None

Type: Fractionating transposition Square: 6 x 6 Labels: A D F G V X Alphabet: A-Z + 0-9

Options

Group output into display blocks

Grouping inserts spaces every 5 characters for readability.

Process details

Normalized plaintext

Pair stream before transposition

Column read order

Output stats

Mode: Encrypt Input chars: 0 Processed chars: 0 Pair chars: 0 Digraphs: 0 Columns: 0 Rows: 0 Output chars: 0 Display groups: 0

Example: with the default square and transposition key CARGO, ATTACK AT 1200 encrypts to AAVVF ADDDV DAAVF GFGVG AAGV.

Input

Output

Using This Tool: Guide & Notes Show guide

ADFGVX extends ADFGX with a 6x6 square so letters and digits can be included before transposition.

How to use it

Set the 6x6 square alphabet or key material.
Set the transposition key.
Paste letters, digits, or ciphertext into the input box.
Use the same square and transposition settings to decrypt.

Options and settings

Square alphabet controls the coordinate mapping for letters and digits.
Transposition key controls the second rearrangement stage.
Grouping keeps the ADFGVX output readable.
Digit support is the main practical difference from ADFGX.

Notes

ADFGVX coordinate text uses A, D, F, G, V, and X.
Small setting changes produce very different ciphertext.

ADFGX and ADFGVX: Fracturing Letters for Wartime Radio

The World War I field ciphers that split characters into coordinates, scattered those coordinates across the page, and made intercepted radio traffic far harder to analyse at speed.

Read the article

Signal acquired

A note from the team

We build these tools because we love cryptography, encoding, and making difficult ideas easier to explore. If they've helped you, even a small coffee means the world to the project. Thank you!

Say thanks on Ko-fi