Rail Fence Cipher
Reorder text along a zigzag path using 2–100 rails. This is a transposition demonstration, not secure modern encryption.
Rails: integer 2–100. All characters, including spaces and Unicode, are retained.
A QUICK WALKTHROUGH
How to use this tool
- Enter text and a rail count.
- Choose encrypt or decrypt.
- Copy the resulting text.
Rail count
The rail count must be an integer from 2 through 100. One rail returns the input unchanged and is not offered.
Characters and encoding
All JavaScript UTF-16 code units are retained, including spaces, punctuation, and Unicode. No characters are silently removed.
Educational boundary
Rail Fence is a reversible transposition exercise, not secure encryption. Do not use it to protect confidential information.
GOOD TO KNOW
Common questions
What rail counts are valid?
Positive integer counts from 2 to 100.
Are spaces preserved?
Yes. Every UTF-16 code unit is included in order.
Is it secure?
No. It is an educational cipher demonstration.