This volume presents an exhaustive treatment of computation and algorithms for finite fields. Topics covered include polynomial factorization, finding irreducible and primitive polynomials, distribution of these primitive polynomials and of primitive points on elliptic curves, constructing bases of various types, and new applications of finite fields to other areas of mathematics. For completeness, also included are two special chapters on some recent advances and applications of the theory of congruences (optimal coefficients, congruential pseudo-random number generators, modular arithmetic etc.), and computational number theory (primality testing, factoring integers, computing in algebraic number theory, etc). The problems considered here have many applications in computer science, coding theory, cryptography, number theory and discrete mathematics. The level of discussion presupposes only a knowledge of the basic facts on finite fields, and the book can be recommended as supplementary graduate text. For researchers and students interested in computational and algorithmic problems in finite fields.

The AAECC Symposia Series was started in 1983 by Alain Poli (Toulouse), who, together with R. Desq, D. Lazard, and P. Camion, organized the ?rst conference. Originally the acronym AAECC meant “Applied Algebra and Error-Correcting Codes”. Over the years its meaning has shifted to “Applied Algebra, Algebraic Algorithms, and Error-Correcting Codes”, re?ecting the growing importance of complexity in both decoding algorithms and computational algebra. AAECC aims to encourage cross-fertilization between algebraic methods and their applications in computing and communications. The algebraic orientation is towards ?nite ?elds, complexity, polynomials, and graphs. The applications orientation is towards both theoretical and practical error-correction coding, and, since AAECC 13 (Hawaii, 1999), towards cryptography. AAECC was the ?rst symposium with papers connecting Gr¨obner bases with E-C codes. The balance between theoretical and practical is intended to shift regularly; at AAECC-14 the focus was on the theoretical side. The main subjects covered were: – Codes: iterative decoding, decoding methods, block codes, code construction. – Codes and algebra: algebraic curves, Gr¨obner bases, and AG codes. – Algebra: rings and ?elds, polynomials. – Codes and combinatorics: graphs and matrices, designs, arithmetic. – Cryptography. – Computational algebra: algebraic algorithms. – Sequences for communications.

The AAECC Symposia Series was started in 1983 by Alain Poli (Toulouse), who, together with R. Desq, D. Lazard, and P. Camion, organized the ?rst conference. Originally the acronym AAECC meant “Applied Algebra and Error-Correcting Codes”. Over the years its meaning has shifted to “Applied Algebra, Algebraic Algorithms, and Error-Correcting Codes”, re?ecting the growing importance of complexity in both decoding algorithms and computational algebra. AAECC aims to encourage cross-fertilization between algebraic methods and their applications in computing and communications. The algebraic orientation is towards ?nite ?elds, complexity, polynomials, and graphs. The applications orientation is towards both theoretical and practical error-correction coding, and, since AAECC 13 (Hawaii, 1999), towards cryptography. AAECC was the ?rst symposium with papers connecting Gr¨obner bases with E-C codes. The balance between theoretical and practical is intended to shift regularly; at AAECC-14 the focus was on the theoretical side. The main subjects covered were: – Codes: iterative decoding, decoding methods, block codes, code construction. – Codes and algebra: algebraic curves, Gr¨obner bases, and AG codes. – Algebra: rings and ?elds, polynomials. – Codes and combinatorics: graphs and matrices, designs, arithmetic. – Cryptography. – Computational algebra: algebraic algorithms. – Sequences for communications.

This volume presents an exhaustive treatment of computation and algorithms for finite fields. Topics covered include polynomial factorization, finding irreducible and primitive polynomials, distribution of these primitive polynomials and of primitive points on elliptic curves, constructing bases of various types, and new applications of finite fields to other areas of mathematics. For completeness, also included are two special chapters on some recent advances and applications of the theory of congruences (optimal coefficients, congruential pseudo-random number generators, modular arithmetic etc.), and computational number theory (primality testing, factoring integers, computing in algebraic number theory, etc). The problems considered here have many applications in computer science, coding theory, cryptography, number theory and discrete mathematics. The level of discussion presupposes only a knowledge of the basic facts on finite fields, and the book can be recommended as supplementary graduate text. For researchers and students interested in computational and algorithmic problems in finite fields.

The AAECC Symposia Series was started in 1983 by Alain Poli (Toulouse), who, together with R. Desq, D. Lazard, and P. Camion, organized the ?rst conference. Originally the acronym AAECC meant “Applied Algebra and Error-Correcting Codes”. Over the years its meaning has shifted to “Applied Algebra, Algebraic Algorithms, and Error-Correcting Codes”, re?ecting the growing importance of complexity in both decoding algorithms and computational algebra. AAECC aims to encourage cross-fertilization between algebraic methods and their applications in computing and communications. The algebraic orientation is towards ?nite ?elds, complexity, polynomials, and graphs. The applications orientation is towards both theoretical and practical error-correction coding, and, since AAECC 13 (Hawaii, 1999), towards cryptography. AAECC was the ?rst symposium with papers connecting Gr¨obner bases with E-C codes. The balance between theoretical and practical is intended to shift regularly; at AAECC-14 the focus was on the theoretical side. The main subjects covered were: – Codes: iterative decoding, decoding methods, block codes, code construction. – Codes and algebra: algebraic curves, Gr¨obner bases, and AG codes. – Algebra: rings and ?elds, polynomials. – Codes and combinatorics: graphs and matrices, designs, arithmetic. – Cryptography. – Computational algebra: algebraic algorithms. – Sequences for communications.

The AAECC Symposia Series was started in 1983 by Alain Poli (Toulouse), who, together with R. Desq, D. Lazard, and P. Camion, organized the ?rst conference. Originally the acronym AAECC meant “Applied Algebra and Error-Correcting Codes”. Over the years its meaning has shifted to “Applied Algebra, Algebraic Algorithms, and Error-Correcting Codes”, re?ecting the growing importance of complexity in both decoding algorithms and computational algebra. AAECC aims to encourage cross-fertilization between algebraic methods and their applications in computing and communications. The algebraic orientation is towards ?nite ?elds, complexity, polynomials, and graphs. The applications orientation is towards both theoretical and practical error-correction coding, and, since AAECC 13 (Hawaii, 1999), towards cryptography. AAECC was the ?rst symposium with papers connecting Gr¨obner bases with E-C codes. The balance between theoretical and practical is intended to shift regularly; at AAECC-14 the focus was on the theoretical side. The main subjects covered were: – Codes: iterative decoding, decoding methods, block codes, code construction. – Codes and algebra: algebraic curves, Gr¨obner bases, and AG codes. – Algebra: rings and ?elds, polynomials. – Codes and combinatorics: graphs and matrices, designs, arithmetic. – Cryptography. – Computational algebra: algebraic algorithms. – Sequences for communications.