What function does the public key serve in digital signature verification?  

Key Points

• The public key is used to decrypt the digital signature in digital signature verification.
• Digital signatures are created using the sender's private key and can be verified by the recipient using the corresponding public key.
• This process ensures the authenticity and integrity of the message or document, confirming that it was indeed signed by the holder of the private key.
• Public key cryptography is a fundamental aspect of secure digital communications, enabling trust and security in electronic transactions.

Additional Information

• Digital signatures are widely used in various applications, including software distribution, financial transactions, and legal agreements, to verify the origin and integrity of the data.
• The security of digital signatures relies on the difficulty of deriving the private key from the public key, making it computationally infeasible to forge a valid signature without access to the private key.
• Public key infrastructure (PKI) supports the issuance, management, and revocation of digital certificates, which bind public keys to the identities of their owners.
• Standards such as RSA and DSA are commonly used algorithms for generating digital signatures.
• Regulatory frameworks like the eIDAS Regulation in the European Union provide legal recognition and standards for electronic signatures and trust services.