A term used to describe any data that is not encrypted. For example, Telnet transfers network data as cleartext, which means if the network was being sniffed, a username and password could be obtained. Users concerned about their security should never store or transfer their data as cleartext. Below is an example of cleartext and then the same text encrypted with a substitution cipher.
This is a cleartext example.
GSRH RH Z XOVZIGVCG VCZNKOV