2.3. Data Formatting

2.3. Data Formatting

This document does not specify any particular encoding for the AEAD inputs and outputs, since the encoding does not affect the security services provided by an AEAD algorithm.

When choosing the format of application data, an application SHOULD position the ciphertext C so that it appears after any other data that is needed to construct the other inputs to the authenticated decryption operation. For instance, if the nonce and ciphertext both appear in a packet, the former value should precede the latter. This rule facilitates efficient and simple hardware implementations of AEAD algorithms.