How many rounds does the AES encryption algorithm perform?

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) operates in a number of rounds that varies according to the key length used in the encryption process. For AES, the number of rounds is determined as follows:

• For a key size of 128 bits, AES performs 10 rounds.

• For a key size of 192 bits, AES performs 12 rounds.

• For a key size of 256 bits, AES performs 14 rounds.

These rounds consist of a series of complex transformations applied to the data being encrypted, including substitution, permutation, and mixing operations, making AES both secure and efficient for encrypting data.

The correct answer is associated with the potential number of rounds based on the key sizes used in AES. Thus, it accurately reflects the operation of the algorithm under different key lengths.