plain text / straight talk
der Klartext, die Klartexte
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to talk straight
In a fixed expression: to state one's opinion openly, directly, and unambiguously, without sugarcoating anything.
Lass uns endlich Klartext reden: Die aktuellen Ergebnisse sind eine Katastrophe.
Let's finally talk straight: the current results are a disaster.
plain text
In cryptography, the term for an unencrypted, readable message, as opposed to encrypted ciphertext.
Das Passwort wurde versehentlich im Klartext in einer Log-Datei gespeichert.
The password was accidentally stored in plain text in a log file.
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Klartexte |
| genitive | des Klartextes |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Klartext | die Klartexte |
| accusative | den Klartext | die Klartexte |
| dative | dem Klartext | den Klartexten |
| genitive | des Klartextes des Klartexts | der Klartexte |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Klartext' (plain text / straight talk) is a compound noun made up of the adjective 'klar' (clear) and the noun 'Text' (text). The meaning is literal in both cases: a clear, meaning understandable and direct, text; or a clear, meaning unencrypted, text.
Ich brauche eine klare Antwort, also sag mir bitte Klartext.
I need a clear answer, so please tell me straight.
In the meaning of 'speaking openly', the word is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'Klartext reden' (to talk straight) or, less commonly, 'Klartext sprechen' (to speak plainly).
Nach wochenlangen Andeutungen hat der Chef endlich Klartext geredet.
After weeks of hints, the boss finally talked straight.
Es ist Zeit, mit den Mitarbeitern Klartext zu sprechen.
It is time to speak plainly with the employees.
You can easily recognize the meaning from the context. Verbs like 'reden' (to talk) or 'sprechen' (to speak) point to the figurative meaning. Technical terms like 'Passwort' (password), 'Daten' (data), 'speichern' (to store), or 'verschlüsselt' (encrypted) point to the cryptographic meaning.
Der Politiker versprach, im Interview Klartext zu reden.
The politician promised to talk straight in the interview.
Die E-Mail wurde unverschlüsselt und im Klartext versendet.
The email was sent unencrypted and in plain text.
In IT and cryptography, 'Klartext' (plain text) is often used with the preposition 'in'. For example, people say that data is stored or transmitted 'im Klartext' (in plain text).
Passwörter sollten niemals im Klartext in einer Datenbank gespeichert werden.
Passwords should never be stored in plain text in a database.
