What is Encryption?
Encryption transforms readable data (plaintext) into unreadable data (ciphertext) using a cryptographic key, such that only someone holding the correct key can reverse it (decryption). Unlike hashing, encryption is designed to be reversible; unlike encoding, it is designed to be secret — without the key, recovering the original data should be computationally infeasible.
Example
AES-256-GCM is a common symmetric encryption algorithm for protecting stored or transmitted data.
Related tool
Try it on ToolSphere — runs entirely in your browser, nothing is uploaded to a server.