# Confused with 128-bits AES round numbers

The key size used for an AES cipher specifies the number of repetitions of transformation rounds that convert the input, called the plaintext, into the final output, called the ciphertext. The number of cycles of repetition are as follows:

10 cycles of repetition for 128-bit keys.
12 cycles of repetition for 192-bit keys.
14 cycles of repetition for 256-bit keys.


Each round consists of several processing steps, each containing four similar but different stages, including one that depends on the encryption key itself. A set of reverse rounds are applied to transform ciphertext back into the original plaintext using the same encryption key.

So 10 cycles of repetition for 128-bits keys. This are the rounds:

KeyExpansions—round

keys are derived from the cipher key using Rijndael's key schedule. AES requires a separate 128-bit round key block for each round plus one more.

InitialRound

AddRoundKey—each byte of the state is combined with a block of the round key using bitwise xor.


Rounds

SubBytes—a non-linear substitution step where each byte is replaced with another according to a lookup table.
ShiftRows—a transposition step where the last three rows of the state are shifted cyclically a certain number of steps.
MixColumns—a mixing operation which operates on the columns of the state, combining the four bytes in each column.


Final Round (no MixColumns)

SubBytes
ShiftRows


So my question is: it says 10 cycles, but does that mean that the initial round is performed once, the normal rounds 9 times, and the final round also once? Because the expanded key is 176-bytes, so the addroundkey function can be used 176/16 = 11 times.

Can someone give me help on the correct division of cycles on the 3 times of rounds (initial, normal, final)?

• yes but that does mean 10 normal rounds or 1 initial round, 8 normal rounds and 1 final round? – Thomas W Nov 15 '15 at 12:47