# Ciphertext notation where the ciphertext consists of two parts

I've see in several places (here or there) the notation $c = (U, V)$ or $c =\langle U, V \rangle$, where $c$ is a ciphertext (to be transmitted).

But as both $U$ and $V$ are "key-like". I can't find if the key to be used on the other is $U$ or $V$.

From the context, I guessed it means "Encrypt $V$ with $U$ (ie the key) to produce $c$".

Can anyone confirm me this ? They are quite commons notations, but I can't find their meaning.

$c = (U,V)$ means that the ciphertext is actually a tuple, made of two parts, $U$ and $V$. It is very common to have ciphertexts that are actually tuples of elements. In this particular case, this scheme is reminiscent to Hashed ElGamal, where ciphertexts are composed of two parts: $U$, which essentially encodes the randomness used, and $V$, which contains the message XORed with a hashed value.
• Well, just saying, the mathematicians care about how an ordered pair is done and it is usually defined as $(a, b) = \{\{a\},\{a, b\}\}$ XD (but sure, I think it is already off-topic and your answer is good enough @cygnusv) – Hilder Vitor Lima Pereira Feb 15 '16 at 10:53