Klartexten

klartexten is a German verb derived from Klartext (plaintext) and the infinitive suffix -en. It has two main uses. In information technology and security contexts, klartexten means rendering data in Klartext, i.e., converting encrypted or encoded material into readable form. In everyday German, the term can also mean to express something in plain, unambiguous language, to spell out the facts.

In cryptography, Klartext denotes the original, readable message before encryption, as opposed to ciphertext. Klartexten describes the act of providing or recovering this readable form, more precisely by decrypting or by presenting data in Klartext. However, in technical writing the standard verbs entschlüsseln (decrypt), aus dem Ciphertext den Klartext gewinnen (retrieve the plaintext), or in Klartext setzen are generally preferred over klartexten.

Usage and register: klartexten is more common in informal or sector-specific language than in formal writing. The term is not uniformly listed in dictionaries, and its acceptability varies by region and field. In metaphorical usage, klartexten can mean to present information in a straightforward, unambiguous way, as in Klartext reden or Klartext sagen.

Etymology: the word is a compound of klar (clear) and Text, with the verb suffix -en. It reflects the notion of making something clear by presenting it as plain text or plain language.