| C | ciphertext, an octet string |
| c | iteration count, a positive integer |
| DK | derived key, an octet string |
| dkLen | length in octets of derived key, a positive integer |
| EM | encoded message, an octet string |
| Hash | underlying hash function |
| hLen | length in octets of pseudorandom function output, a positive integer |
| l | length in blocks of derived key, a positive integer |
| IV | initialization vector, an octet string |
| K | encryption key, an octet string |
| KDF | key derivation function |
| M | message, an octet string |
| P | password, an octet string |
| PRF | underlying pseudorandom function |
| PS | padding string, an octet string |
| psLen | length in octets of padding string, a positive integer |
| S | salt, an octet string |
| T | message authentication code, an octet string |
| T_1, ..., T_l, U_1, ..., U_c | intermediate values, octet strings |
| 01, 02, ..., 08 | octets with value 1, 2, ..., 8 |
| \xor | bit-wise exclusive-or of two octet strings |
| || || | octet length operator |
| || | concatenation operator |
| <i..j> | substring extraction operator: extracts octets i through j, 0 <= i <= j |