student asking question

What's the main difference between "encrypt" and "encode?"

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Encrypt" means to write code or something to make sure that it's secure to prevent unauthorized access. "Encode" means to convert one system of communication into another, such as information. So "Encrypt" is about security, and "encode" is about the form of communication. Here, it also means to symbolically portray something. Taylor's known for encoding messages and stories into her songs for fans to figure out as kind of "easter eggs" that they find. Ex: The song is encoded with messages about her past relationship. Ex: The messaging platform is encrypted end-to-end.

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