What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption, and which one is commonly used in database encryption?

Symmetric encryption uses a single key for both encryption and decryption, making it faster and more efficient for large volumes of data. Asymmetric encryption, on the other hand, uses a pair of keys (public and private) which makes it slower but more secure. Symmetric encryption is commonly used in database encryption because it provides faster processing times, essential for handling large amounts of data in databases.