Encryption

n. coding, ciphering; conversion of data into cipher (Computers)

In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information (referred to as plaintext) to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information (in cryptography, referred to as ciphertext). In many contexts, the word encryption also implicitly refers to the reverse process, decryption (e.g. “software for encryption” can typically also perform decryption), to make the encrypted information readable again (i.e. to make it unencrypted).
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Noun
1. the activity of converting from plain text into code
(synonym) encoding
(hypernym) cryptography, coding, secret writing
(hyponym) compression
(derivation) encode, code, encipher, cipher, cypher, encrypt, inscribe, write in code

<algorithm, cryptography> Any procedure used in cryptography to convert plaintext into ciphertext (encrypted message) in order to prevent any but the intended recipient from reading that data.
Schematically, there are two classes of encryption primitives: public-key cryptography and private-key cryptography; they are generally used complementarily. Public-key encryption algorithms include RSA; private-key algorithms include the obsolescent Data Encryption Standard, the Advanced Encryption Standard, as well as RC4.
The Unix command crypt performs a weak form of encryption. Stronger encryption programs include Pretty Good Privacy and the GNU Privacy Guard.
Other closely related aspects of cryptograph include message digests.
(2003-04-12)

The coding of data for privacy protection or security considerations when transmitted over telecommunications links so that only the person to whom it is sent can read it.