Masking Explained

Masking can mean:

Arts and media

Backmasking, a recording technique in which a sound or message is recorded backward onto a track meant to be played forward
Masking (art), protecting a selected area from change during production, as with tape and stencils
Masking (illustration), an art technique that influences the intended perception of a character

Data masking, replacing data with random characters or data to conceal sensitive information
- Blinded experiment, in which data is masked to prevent bias
Masking (Electronic Health Record), patient-requested concealment of information from healthcare providers
Masking and unmasking by intelligence agencies, to protect the privacy of unintentional surveillance targets
Sound masking, intentional introduction of background sounds to improve comfort and privacy

Auditory masking, sensory phenomena where perception of one sound is affected by another
- Temporal masking
- Simultaneous masking
Visual masking
Backward masking, in psychovisual or psychoacoustics

Mask (computing), AND'ing or OR'ing a bit pattern with another bit pattern to select certain bits
Masking agent, a reagent used in chemical analysis which reacts with chemical species which may interfere in the analysis
Sound masking, intentional introduction of background sounds to improve comfort and privacy
Spectral mask, a method for reducing adjacent-channel interference in broadcast applications

Masking (personality), in which an individual changes their personality to conform to social pressure
Autistic masking, the suppression of autistic behaviors and compensation of social difficulties in autistic people
Female masking, a form of male cross-dressing
Applying or using a facial mask