What is the primary function of encryption?

The primary function of encryption is to keep the meaning of a communication confidential. This means that encryption transforms information into a format that is unreadable to anyone who does not have the correct decryption key or method, thereby protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access. By ensuring that only intended recipients can access the original content, encryption plays a critical role in safeguarding confidentiality, whether it's for data in transit (like emails and online transactions) or data at rest (like files stored on a disk).

This focus on confidentiality is fundamental in various contexts, such as protecting personal information, securing communications in business dealings, and maintaining privacy in data storage. Through encryption, even if data is intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals, it remains unintelligible and secure, which is vital in today's security landscape where threats to data integrity and privacy are prevalent.