Differs

Differs

An English term that refers to the number of possible keys or combinations for a given lock. This number is a factor of the design of the key, the number of locking components (i.e. pins, wafers, discs, levers), the number of available depths for each component, and the tolerances of the lock. Tryout keys are a lockpicking tool used to exploit a low differ count in certain locks.

Real vs. Theoretical Differs

Differs are divided between theoretical and real. Theoretically, most locks have a very high number of differs, but in reality tolerance and bitting restrictions lower this number dramatically. For example, a 5 pin lock with 10 depth spacings has 10^5 (100,000) theoretical key differs. Various key or lock requirements may lower this number dramatically:

• Cut depths cannot be repeated more than twice in a row.
• Cut depths changes cannot be greater than a certain number. This is usually done to prevent back-cutting during key removal.
• Cut depths cannot follow predictable or easy to pick patterns, such as a staircase.
• Tolerances of the lock allow for fractional depths to correctly set components.
• Certain types of master keying may restrict various cut depths in non-master keys.

See also

• Key
• Lock
• Master Keying
• Lockpicking
• Tryout Keys