A bibliometric analysis of rivest’s cipher: trends and developments in modern cryptography

Abstract

Purpose: to systematically analyze the development of research on Rivest's Cipher in modern cryptography using a bibliometric approach.

Method: this study uses a quantitative bibliometric approach to examine research on Rivest's Cipher using Scopus data from 2010 to 2025. A total of 435 peer-reviewed journal articles were analyzed after applying selection criteria. The analysis was conducted using Scopus Analyzer and VOSviewer, covering publication trends, research contributions, keyword co-occurrence, and collaboration patterns. The results were visualized through network and density maps to provide an overview of the research landscape.

Findings: research on Rivest's Cipher generally increased from 2010 to 2025, peaking around 2021 before stabilizing. Contributions are mainly dominated by Asian countries, especially India and China. The main research themes focus on cryptography, encryption, and RC4, particularly in terms of security analysis. Collaboration patterns remain fragmented, and several gaps are identified, including limited studies on RC5 and RC6 and a lack of integration with modern technologies such as AI and blockchain, indicating opportunities for future research.

Implications: Rivest's Cipher remains influential in cryptography research and highlights key trends, contributors, and gaps. It suggests opportunities for collaboration and for exploring less-studied algorithms and emerging technologies, supporting the development of more secure and efficient cryptographic solutions.

Originality: lies in mapping Rivest's Cipher studies worldwide, highlighting trends, key authors, and research gaps for future exploration.