What does `gpg` do? Flags & examples explained

gpg examples, explained

$ gpg -c secrets.txt

gpgGNU Privacy Guard — encrypt, decrypt, and sign data
-cencrypt with a symmetric passphrase (no keys needed)
secrets.txtan argument passed to the command

$ gpg -e -r alice@example.com report.pdf

gpgGNU Privacy Guard — encrypt, decrypt, and sign data
-eencrypt the input for one or more recipients
-rencrypt for this recipient (key ID or email)
alice@example.comvalue for -r
report.pdfan argument passed to the command

$ gpg -d secrets.txt.gpg

gpgGNU Privacy Guard — encrypt, decrypt, and sign data
-ddecrypt the input
secrets.txt.gpgan argument passed to the command

$ gpg --list-keys

gpgGNU Privacy Guard — encrypt, decrypt, and sign data
--list-keyslist the public keys in your keyring

gpg flags & options

-c	encrypt with a symmetric passphrase (no keys needed)
-e	encrypt the input for one or more recipients
-d	decrypt the input
-s	make a signature
-a	produce ASCII-armored (text) output instead of binary
-b	make a detached signature (separate .sig file)
-v	verbose output
-o	write output to this file
-r	encrypt for this recipient (key ID or email)
-u	sign using this local key
--gen-key	interactively generate a new key pair
--full-generate-key	generate a key pair with all options prompted
--list-keys	list the public keys in your keyring
--export	export a public key
--import	import keys from a file
--verify	verify a signature

Other commands

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