What process involves transforming numbers or abbreviating long strings of data?

The correct answer revolves around the concept of transforming numbers or abbreviating long strings of data, which relates significantly to data encoding. Data encoding is a systematic method of converting data into a specific format for efficient transmission, storage, or representation. In the context of the question, data encoding captures the essence of transforming extensive data strings into a more manageable, often more compact form, thereby facilitating better usability and accessibility.

This process can involve various methods, such as turning alphanumeric characters into binary data or using symbolic representations to economize on space. The benefit of this transformation is that it enables more effective handling and processing of data, which is crucial in environments where data resources are limited or need to be transmitted quickly.

Other choices, while related, do not specifically capture the essence of transforming numbers or abbreviating data strings in the same systematic manner. Coded data refers to the outcome of encoding but does not define the transformation process itself, while data compression aims at reducing file size rather than general data representation. Lastly, data interpretation focuses more on understanding the meaning of the data rather than altering its representation for efficiency. Thus, data encoding is the most suitable answer to this question.