What term describes a method of encoding information to secure communications?

The term that describes a method of encoding information to secure communications is encryption. Encryption is the process of converting plaintext (readable data) into ciphertext (scrambled data) using specific algorithms and keys, ensuring that only authorized parties can access and understand the data. This is fundamental in securing communications over networks, making it difficult for unauthorized users to intercept and decipher the information.

In the context of securing communications, encryption plays a critical role in protecting sensitive data during transmission, preventing eavesdropping and data breaches. By employing encryption techniques, organizations can safeguard personal information, financial transactions, and confidential communications from being accessed by malicious parties.

Other terms listed, while related to data security, serve different purposes. Encoding simply refers to the conversion of data into a different format for specific purposes, which does not inherently provide security. Tokenization involves replacing sensitive data with unique identifiers or tokens but is not directly a method of securing data through encoding. Decryption, on the other hand, is the process of converting encrypted data back into its original form, which does not apply to the initial encoding of information aimed at securing communications. Thus, encryption stands out as the correct choice in this context.