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How the Enigma Cipher Machine Works

Trace how a key press passes through the plugboard, rotors, reflector, and lampboard to become another letter.

Cipher path · 1/8

Why the same letter stops looking like the same letter

Enigma is not a box that swaps a letter just once. The keyboard, plugboard, rotating rotors, reflector, and lampboard are all connected, and every keypress shifts the internal state a little.

Reference for the real machine’s structure: Crypto Museum: Enigma. This experience arranges it into a 3D view that is easy to explore.

First look at the whole 3D layout, from keyboard to lamp. No encrypt button yet here — we are just setting the stage the signal will travel across.

Order to lookkeyboard → lamp
  1. Key inputThe signal travels in this order.
  2. PlugboardThe signal travels in this order.
  3. Right / center / left rotorsThe signal travels in this order.
  4. ReflectorThe signal travels in this order.
  5. LampboardThe signal travels in this order.
Discovery check

What is the main thing this experience follows?

How the Enigma Cipher Machine Works - Luneidea