What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption on the Security+ exam?

Symmetric encryption uses one shared key for both encryption and decryption, making it fast for large data but requiring secure key exchange. AES is the standard with 128, 192, or 256-bit keys. Asymmetric encryption uses a key pair, public and private, solving the key distribution problem but running much slower. RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography are common. In practice, asymmetric encryption exchanges a symmetric session key, then symmetric encryption handles the data. The exam tests this hybrid approach frequently.