Redaction and de-identification
Also: redacted, anonymization, anonymisation, pseudonymization
Removing private details before sharing a file. A black box on a page may hide text without deleting it.
The fuller definition
Redaction removes or masks information from a document before it is shared or processed. De-identification goes further, removing or replacing details that could identify a person.
Delivery may be possible in April.
Subject to inspection.
Delivery may be possible in April. Subject to inspection.
source_id: A01
page: 2
version: original
This fictional example keeps a condition beside the proposition it qualifies. Extraction and chunking should preserve enough context to inspect what the source actually says.
A concrete example
Party names and the matter name are replaced with codes before a document is sent to an external AI service for a formatting task.
The distinction that matters
Masked text can survive in metadata, images, or earlier versions. Check the output file, not just the visible page.
Related terms
Personal information
Data about a person who can be identified. Which privacy rules apply depends on the data, its use, and the law.
Reliability & securityConfidentiality
Keeping private material from people who may not see it. Check who can read, store, or share what you put into a tool.
Documents & retrievalMetadata
Information about a file rather than its contents, such as its author, date, and page count.
Where it is taught
Map where information goes before using a toolSource and further reading
Sentence Transformers · Semantic searchThe definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.