Onion routing is a technique for
anonymous communication over a
computer network. In an
onion network, messages are encapsulated in layers of
encryption, analogous to layers of an
onion. The encrypted data is transmitted through a series of network nodes called
onion routers, each of which "peels" away a single layer, uncovering the data's next destination. When the final layer is decrypted, the message arrives at its destination. The sender remains anonymous because each intermediary knows only the location of the immediately preceding and following nodes.