What is the process called that transforms intelligible information into unintelligible information?

The process that transforms intelligible information into unintelligible information is known as encryption. Encryption involves the use of algorithms and keys to convert plaintext, which is human-readable data, into ciphertext, which appears random and incomprehensible without the necessary key to decode it back to its original form. This process is crucial for securing sensitive information, as it prevents unauthorized access and ensures that only individuals with the correct decryption key can access the original data.

In contrast, decryption is the opposite process where ciphertext is converted back into intelligible information. Compression reduces the size of data without altering its intelligibility, making it easier to store or transmit. Encoding, while it changes the format of data to ensure compatibility with different systems, does not inherently make the information unintelligible; rather, it converts it into a different format without the intention of security.