ENCODING

verb

1. To convert (plain text) into code.
2. (communication) To convert source information into another form.
3. To constitute the code necessary for the biosynthesis of a protein by means of a matrix so as to transcribe DNA material.

noun

1. The way in which symbols are mapped onto bytes, e.g. in the rendering of a particular font, or in the mapping from keyboard input into visual text.
2. A conversion of plain text into a code or cypher form (for decoding by the recipient).