To encode a message is to turn it into a code — a set of signs that stand for the original words or information. The point may be secrecy (spies, wartime signals), or it may only be a system other people or machines can read: Morse, computer files, a QR code.

To encode a message is to turn it into a codeencode一段訊息就是把它變成一種code（代碼）——a set of signs that stand for the original words or information也就是一套代表原本文字或資訊的符號。The point may be secrecy (spies, wartime signals)目的可能是保密（像間諜、戰時的訊號），or it may only be a system other people or machines can read或者只是讓別人或機器能讀懂的一套系統：Morse, computer files, a QR code像摩斯密碼、電腦檔案、QR code。

In computer talk the verb is everyday: software encodes video, text, or pictures into a format for storing or sending. Biologists stretch it further and say a gene encodes a protein, meaning the gene holds the instructions.

In computer talk the verb is everyday在電腦用語裡這個動詞很日常：software encodes video, text, or pictures into a format for storing or sending軟體會把影片、文字或圖片encode成適合儲存或傳送的格式。Biologists stretch it further生物學家把它用得更寬，and say a gene encodes a protein會說一個基因encode一種蛋白質，meaning the gene holds the instructions意思是這個基因帶著製造的指令。

The word is plain and technical, not fancy. Though actually, putting something into code is not always hiding it. Hiding it on purpose is closer to encrypt, and people mix the two.

The word is plain and technical, not fancy這個字樸實又專業，不花俏。Though actually不過老實說，putting something into code is not always hiding it把東西變成代碼不代表一定是在隱藏它。Hiding it on purpose is closer to encrypt刻意隱藏比較接近encrypt（加密），and people mix the two而人們常常把這兩個字搞混。

There is also a rare noun encode in technical writing, but the verb is the one you will meet.

There is also a rare noun encode in technical writing技術寫作裡也有一個少見的名詞encode，but the verb is the one you will meet不過你會遇到的通常是動詞用法。