> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://libsodium.gitbook.io/doc/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://libsodium.gitbook.io/doc/advanced/stream_ciphers.md).

# Stream ciphers

Sodium includes implementations of the Salsa20, XSalsa20, ChaCha20 and XChaCha20 stream ciphers.

These functions are stream ciphers. They do not provide authenticated encryption.

They can be used to generate pseudo-random data from a key, or as building blocks for implementing custom constructions, but they are not alternatives to `crypto_secretbox_*()`.