What is the definition of encryption?

Encryption is defined as the process of converting information into a code or a format that is unreadable to unauthorized individuals. This transformation ensures that only those who have the proper key or access can decode and read the original information.

By encoding data, encryption acts as a security measure that protects sensitive information from being accessed by unauthorized users or malicious entities. It is widely used in various applications, such as securing online transactions, protecting communication over the internet, and safeguarding files and documents.

The other options focus on different concepts. Sending data over the internet refers to the transmission of information, which does not inherently involve security measures. Backing up data pertains to creating copies of data for recovery purposes, and while it's crucial for data integrity, it does not involve the protection of data through coding. Speeding up data retrieval is an optimization concept, unrelated to the security objectives of encryption.