What is the process of encoding messages and information to ensure that only authorized parties can read them?

The process of encoding messages and information to ensure that only authorized parties can read them is known as encryption. Encryption transforms readable data, known as plaintext, into a format that is unreadable to anyone who does not possess the appropriate key or password. This ensures confidentiality and protects the information from unauthorized access.

In an encrypted state, data can only be converted back to its original format through decryption, which is the reverse process using a specific key. Encryption plays a vital role in securing sensitive information as it protects data during transmission over networks or while stored on devices.

Other terms provided relate to different aspects of data security. For example, encoding typically refers to converting data into a specific format for efficient transmission or storage, but it does not inherently include methods for restricting access to the data like encryption does. Hashing refers to generating a fixed-size string of characters from input data, which is useful for verifying data integrity but does not allow the retrieval of original data. Decryption serves to convert encrypted data back to its readable form but does not encompass the process of securing the data initially. Thus, encryption is the key process that secures messages so that only authorized parties can access them.