Primes are used in several routines in information technology, such as public-key cryptography, which relies on the difficulty of factoring large numbers into their prime factors. In abstract algebra, objects that behave in a generalized way like prime numbers include prime elements and prime ideals.

Where are prime numbers used in real life?

There are dozens of important uses for prime numbers. Cicadas time their life cycles by them, modern screens use them to define color intensities of pixels, and manufacturers use them to get rid of harmonics in their products.

Is there any use for prime numbers?

Most modern computer cryptography works by using the prime factors of large numbers. The large number that was used to encrypt a file can be publicly known and available, because the encryption works so only the prime factors of that large number can be used to decrypt it again.