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Technical Vocabularynoun · /ɪnˈkrɪpʃən/

encryption

In simple English

Encryption is a fundamental security practice in modern software development. When data is encrypted, it becomes unreadable without the correct decryption key, making it safe to transmit over networks or store in databases. In tech workplaces, engineers discuss encryption when protecting user passwords, payment information, API credentials, and other sensitive data. There are two main types: symmetric encryption (same key for encoding and decoding) and asymmetric encryption (public and private keys). Teams often debate encryption algorithms, key management strategies, and compliance requirements like GDPR or HIPAA that mandate encryption for specific data types.

Understand what encryption is, why it matters in software development, and how to implement it securely.

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness5/5
Versatility5/5
FormalityCasualFormalFormal
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓End-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and receiver can read messages
✓We need stronger encryption for the payment gateway
✓The encryption key must be stored securely and never hardcoded

Real examples

in a standup

"We completed the encryption implementation for user credentials last sprint."

in a code review

"This API endpoint needs encryption enabled before we can merge the pull request."

in a team meeting

"Our encryption strategy should follow industry best practices and pass security audits."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Often confused with hashing or encoding. Encryption is reversible with a key; hashing is not. Do not say encrypt for all security processes.

✕We encrypted the data with hashing.
✓We encrypted the data with a strong algorithm, or we hashed the passwords.— Hashing and encryption are different. Hashing is one-way; encryption is reversible with a key.
✕The encryption is stored in the code for security.
✓The encryption key is stored securely in an environment variable or vault.— Never hardcode encryption keys. Store them securely using key management systems.
✕We do not need encryption because our server is private.
✓We should use encryption regardless of network privacy for defense in depth.— Encryption protects data at rest and in transit, providing multiple layers of security.

Other forms

noun

encryption

"Encryption is required for all payment data."

verb

encrypt

"We encrypt user information before storing it in the database."

adjective

encrypted

"The encrypted message can only be read with the correct key."

Often used with

end-to-end encryptionUsed when communication is encrypted from sender to recipient with no intermediary access
encryption keyThe secret code needed to decrypt encrypted data; must be kept secure
encryption algorithmThe mathematical method used to encrypt data, such as AES or RSA
enable encryptionTo activate or turn on encryption functionality in a system or application
encryption standardEstablished security protocols like AES-256 or TLS used across industries

Similar words

encodingEncoding converts data to another format but is not necessarily secure; encryption always provides security
scramblingLess formal term; encryption is the technical standard term in professional contexts

Opposites

decryptionplaintextunencrypted

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your team needs to secure customer data. How do you express this in a meeting?

Complete the sentence

2. Our compliance team requires that we use AES-256 _______ for sensitive files.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses encryption incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this more naturally for a tech meeting: 'The information needs to be made into a secret code so bad people cannot read it.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "encryption" in a standup this week?

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