On APN functions and their derivatives

Abstract: We determine a connection between the weight of a Boolean function and the total weight of its first-order derivatives. The relationship established is used to study some cryptographic properties of Boolean functions. We establish a characterization of APN permutations in terms of the weight of the first-order derivatives of their components. We also characterize APN functions by the total weight of the second-order derivatives of their components. The total weight of the first-order and second-order derivatives for functions such as permutations, bent, partially-bent, quadratic, plateaued and balanced functions is determined.