Asymmetric keys are a type of cryptographic key used in encryption and digital signatures. They consist of a pair of keys: a public key, which can be shared with anyone, and a private key, which is kept secret. The public key is used to encrypt data, while the private key is used to decrypt it. This ensures that only the owner of the private key can access the encrypted information. This system enhances security by allowing secure communication without needing to share a secret key. Asymmetric keys are fundamental to protocols like SSL/TLS and are widely used in applications such as email encryption and digital certificates.