transitive verb-·cod′ed, -·cod′ing
- to convert (a message, information, etc.) into code
- to convert (data) by applying an electronic code
verben·cod·ed, en·cod·ing, en·codes
- To convert (a message or other information) into code.
- To format (electronic data) according to a standard format.
- Genetics To specify the genetic code for (a protein, for example).
- To convert information into code.
- To format electronic data according to a standard format.
- Genetics To specify the genetic code for a protein.
(third-person singular simple present encodes, present participle encoding, simple past and past participle encoded)
encode - Computer Definition
The process of coding data into symbolic form. See also code.
The process of converting one digital format to another by applying known algorithms either to obscure the content of the file or data or to compress the data or convert it to another format. The term is also used to describe the conversion of ordinary language into code. Frequently, the term is used to mean encrypt.
See Also: Decode BASE64; Encrypt.
(3) The term is sometimes erroneously used for "encrypt." However, encoded data are not secretly scrambled and can be decoded easily. See cryptography.