Lightweight cryptography refers to cryptographic algorithms and protocols that are designed to be efficient in terms of computational resources, memory usage, and power consumption. These algorithms are tailored for environments where traditional cryptographic methods may be too resource-intensive, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, embedded systems, and low-power sensors. Despite their reduced computational footprint, lightweight cryptographic solutions aim to offer a level of security that is comparable to their more resource-intensive counterparts. By optimizing for minimal resource usage, lightweight cryptography enables secure data transmission and storage in scenarios where it would otherwise be challenging due to hardware limitations.