Encryption is a tool for securing information and data, typically by using an algorithm to transform the data into a form that cannot be understood by anyone who does not have the encryption key.

Encryption is used in many applications from secure communications to storing personal data on laptops. The use of encryption has been increasing since the early 1980s when it was discovered that computers were vulnerable to attack.

In this context, encryption refers to the process of converting plaintext into unreadable code. This process is known as "encoding," and the coded information is referred to as "ciphertext." The purpose of encryption is to prevent unauthorized parties from accessing or modifying private and sensitive data.