Encoding

The word encoding has a number of meanings.

• A character encoding is a code that pairs a set of natural language characters (such as an alphabet or syllabary) with a set of something else, such as numbers or electrical pulses.
• A text encoding is a method of representing a piece of text as a sequence of codes (from a character encoding) for the purpose of computer storage or electronic communication of that text.
• A semantics encoding of formal language A in formal language B is a method of representing all terms (e.g. programs or descriptions) of language A using language B.

Encoding is different from encryption in the sense that encoding does not need a key (or a salt), while encryption needs.

See also Code (disambiguation).