IDEA是一个分组长度为64位的分组密码算法，密钥长度为128位（抗强力攻击能力比DES强），同一算法既可加密也可解密。

IDEA的“混淆”和“扩散”设计原则来自三种运算，它们易于软、硬件实现（加密速度快）：

-IDEA is a packet length of the 64 block cipher algorithms, key length of 128 (anti strong offensive capability than-DES), the same encryption algorithm can be declassified. IDEA's "confusion" and "proliferation" design principles from the three operators, easy software and hardware to achieve (encryption speed) :