Data encryption standard is an early symmetric key encryption algorithm developed by IBM and adopted as a federal standard in the United States in 1977. DES encrypts data using a 56-bit key, transforming plaintext into ciphertext through a series of complex transformations and permutations. Although once widely used for securing sensitive information, DES has been largely superseded by more advanced algorithms like AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) due to its vulnerability to brute-force attacks and relatively short key length. DES played a foundational role in the development of modern cryptographic practices.