In information security and data communications, the coding or scrambling of data so that humans cannot read it directly is known as what?

Introduction / Context:
Modern computer systems often transmit and store sensitive data such as passwords, financial details, and personal information. To protect this data from unauthorized access, it is transformed into a form that is not easily readable by humans or by attackers. The process of transforming readable data into an unreadable format is a fundamental concept in information security.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Plaintext refers to the original readable data.
• The transformation uses a key and an algorithm to scramble the data.
• Only parties that know the appropriate key can restore the data to readable form.

Concept / Approach:
The process of converting plaintext into a coded form called ciphertext is known as encryption. Encryption does not simply compress data or hide it in a trivial way; it uses mathematical algorithms and secret keys so that without the key, reversing the process is computationally infeasible. Decryption is the reverse operation, where ciphertext is converted back to plaintext by an authorized party. Encryption is widely used in secure web connections, messaging applications, disk protection tools, and many other systems.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question emphasizes coding or scrambling so that humans cannot read the data.Step 2: Recall that encryption is defined exactly as this transformation of readable data into ciphertext using a key.Step 3: Consider compression. Compression reduces data size but does not primarily aim to hide meaning.Step 4: Consider ergonomics and biometrics. These terms relate to human factors engineering and biological measurements and are not about scrambling data.Step 5: Therefore, encryption is the term that correctly fits the description.

Verification / Alternative check:
Introductory security materials explain that encryption protects confidentiality by making intercepted data useless without the decryption key. Examples include HTTPS connections, which encrypt data between browsers and servers, and encrypted messaging apps. These systems would be ineffective if the data remained in human readable form during transmission.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, compression, changes the size of data but does not necessarily hide its meaning. Compressed data can often be restored without a secret key.Option C, ergonomics, is the study of designing equipment and workplaces for comfort and efficiency.Option D, biometrics, deals with using biological characteristics such as fingerprints or iris patterns for identification or authentication.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse encryption with related concepts such as encoding or compression. Encoding transforms data into a different representation for compatibility, while compression reduces size. Only encryption is fundamentally about confidentiality and resistance to unauthorized access. Remember that encryption is always associated with keys and cryptographic algorithms.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Encryption.