Which of the following is a common method to secure communication in cryptography?

Encryption is a fundamental process in cryptography that secures communication by transforming readable information, known as plaintext, into an unreadable format, referred to as ciphertext. This transformation utilizes algorithms and cryptographic keys, ensuring that unauthorized parties cannot access the original data.

The importance of encryption lies in its ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity in data transmission. When parties communicate sensitive information, encryption serves to protect against eavesdropping and ensures that only the intended recipient, who possesses the correct decryption key, can access the original message.

In contrast, the other methods listed serve different purposes. Encoding primarily focuses on converting data into a different format for storage or transmission purposes, without any intent to secure the content. Simplification refers to reducing complexity, which is unrelated to securing communication. Decoding reverses the process of encoding and is not related to enhancing security.