The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is a widely used encryption algorithm that secures data by converting it into a format that is unreadable without a specific key. Established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2001, AES replaced the older Data Encryption Standard (DES) due to its stronger security features. It operates on fixed block sizes of 128 bits and supports key lengths of 128, 192, or 256 bits, making it versatile for various applications. AES is utilized in numerous security protocols and systems, including Wi-Fi security, VPNs, and file encryption. Its design is based on a substitution-permutation network, which enhances its resistance to attacks. As a result, AES is considered a standard for securing sensitive information in both government and commercial sectors worldwide.