Elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) is a type of public key cryptography that uses the mathematics of elliptic curves to secure data. It allows for smaller keys compared to traditional methods like RSA, while providing the same level of security. This efficiency makes ECC particularly useful for devices with limited processing power, such as smartphones and IoT devices. In ECC, the security relies on the difficulty of solving the Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm Problem. By using points on an elliptic curve, cryptographic keys can be generated and exchanged securely. This technology is increasingly adopted in various applications, including secure communications and digital signatures.