AES stands for Advanced Encryption Standard. It is the most commonly used encryption algorithm in the world. AES 256 is a specific implementation of AES that uses a 256-bit key to encrypt data.
AES-256 encryption is considered one of the most secure types of encryptions. It is also used in a lot of different applications like VPN, email, chat, and online banking.
The AES 256 algorithm was developed by Dr. Joan Daemen and Dr. Vincent Rijmen in 1997, and submitted to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for consideration as an encryption standard in 2001.