What does the term "encryption" primarily describe?

The term "encryption" primarily describes a process for encoding information. This means that encryption transforms readable data, known as plaintext, into an unreadable format, known as ciphertext, using a specific algorithm and a key. The purpose of this transformation is to protect the data from unauthorized access, ensuring that only individuals with the correct key can decode and access the original information. This is a fundamental aspect of cybersecurity and is widely used in various applications such as secure communication, online transactions, and data protection.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose or function of encryption. For instance, while improving website speed refers to techniques for optimizing the performance of web pages, data visualization involves representing data in graphical formats to make it understandable. In addition, data storage pertains to methods of saving digital information on devices or servers, which is unrelated to the process of encoding or securing data.