What Does Cipher Block Chaining (CBC) Mean?

In a cipher block chaining process, data is encrypted in specific blocks, and each block is dependent on the blocks before it for decryption. The process uses something called an initialization vector to help tie these blocks of encrypted data together.

Techopedia Explains Cipher Block Chaining (CBC)

Invented in 1976, cipher block chaining provides a consistent way to encrypt and decrypt large amounts of data. In a block cipher process, text blocks are treated as isolated units to be encrypted and decrypted sequentially. An alternative is a stream cipher method, where each bit gets acted on independently.