What type of data obfuscation is in use when credit card numbers are displayed partially masked?

Data masking is a technique that involves obscuring specific data within a database to protect sensitive information while still allowing for the use of that data in applications and reports. When credit card numbers are displayed partially masked, it means that only a portion of the number is visible (for example, showing the last four digits), ensuring that the sensitive parts are hidden from unauthorized viewers.

This method is particularly important in environments where data exposure could lead to fraud or identity theft, such as in e-commerce or customer service scenarios. By masking data, organizations can comply with regulations and protect customer privacy without losing the ability to perform necessary functions that require some level of access to the data.

Data encryption, on the other hand, transforms data into a secure format that is unreadable without a key. Data hashing creates a fixed-size string or number from input data but does not allow for the original data to be reconstructed. Data truncation involves shortening data but does not provide the same level of confidentiality as masking. Thus, when dealing with scenarios involving the partial exposure of sensitive data, data masking is the appropriate term used to describe the technique.