1. The activity of making clear or converting from code into plain text
   "a secret key or password is required for decoding";
   - decryption, decipherment

1. Convert encrypted data or code into plain, readable form
   "The intelligence team worked to decode the intercepted messages";
   - decrypt, decipher
    
2. Interpret or understand the hidden or underlying meaning
   "Students learned to decode the author's symbolism"
    
3. (computing) convert data from one format to another, especially from an encoded format
   "The software decodes MP3 files into audio"
    
4. (genetics) translate genetic information from RNA into protein sequences
   "Ribosomes decode messenger RNA"

Derived forms: decodings

Type of: coding, cryptography, rewrite, secret writing, steganography

Encyclopedia: Decoding