# **ENCODE()**

## **Function Description**

The `ENCODE()` function is used to encrypt strings symmetrically. It encodes the string by combining a secret key and requires the same key to decode it. Decryption needs to be performed with [`DECODE()`](decode.md).

## **Function Syntax**

```text
> ENCODE (str, pass_str);
```

## **Parameter definition**

| Parameters | Description |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| str | The original string to encode.           |
| pass_str | Password string (key) used for encryption.    |

## **Example**

```text
mysql> SELECT ENCODE('hello', 'mysecretkey');
+----------------------------------+
| ENCODE(hello, mysecretkey) |
+----------------------------------+
| ?;? |
+----------------------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
```