I guess this would be a meditation, or maybe a question on theory, or...well, whatever, I knew that this would be the best place to come, so here it is.

What exactly is the difference between encoding and encryption. I know that, for example, Crypt::Blowfish is encryption, where as MIME::Base64 is encoding, but I don't exactly see the difference! Don't both simply replace (well, maybe not simply, but in any case) one thing for another? Or is there something that I am missing here?

The reason I ask is because lately I have been reading much more about these things (such as Neal Stephensons Cryptonomicon - awesome book) and I am really interested in cryptology and such - and of course, where better to go for the most knowledgable people on the web!

Thanks a bunch for the help!

r. j o s e p h
Violence is a last resort of the incompetent - Salvor Hardin, Foundation by Issac Asimov

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