&reftitle.examples;

Mcrypt can be used to encrypt and decrypt using the above mentioned ciphers. If you linked against `libmcrypt-2.2.x`, the four important mcrypt commands (`mcrypt_cfb`, `mcrypt_cbc`, `mcrypt_ecb`, and `mcrypt_ofb`) can operate in both modes which are named `MCRYPT_ENCRYPT` and `MCRYPT_DECRYPT`, respectively.

If you linked against libmcrypt 2.4.x or 2.5.x, these functions are still available, but it is recommended that you use the advanced functions.

## Encrypt an input value with `TripleDES` under 2.4.x and higher in `ECB` mode

    <?php
        $key = "this is a secret key";
        $input = "Let us meet at 9 o'clock at the secret place.";

        $td = mcrypt_module_open('tripledes', '', 'ecb', '');
        $iv = mcrypt_create_iv(mcrypt_enc_get_iv_size($td), MCRYPT_RAND);
        mcrypt_generic_init($td, $key, $iv);
        $encrypted_data = mcrypt_generic($td, $input);
        mcrypt_generic_deinit($td);
        mcrypt_module_close($td);
    ?>

This example will give you the encrypted data as a string in `$encrypted_data`. For a full example see `mcrypt_module_open`.