Which term refers to the original readable data before any encryption?

• A. Ciphertext
• B. Key
• C. Cryptography
• D. Plaintext

Answer: (D)

Plaintext refers to the original readable data before encryption. When you encrypt, an algorithm (often with a key) transforms that plaintext into ciphertext, which appears as unreadable data unless you have the decryption method. This protects confidentiality by turning readable information into a scrambled form that only authorized parties can revert back to plaintext. The term ciphertext describes the encrypted data, the key is the secret value used to perform encryption and decryption, and cryptography is the field that studies these methods. Sometimes plaintext is called cleartext, but the essential idea is the data in its readable state prior to encryption.