Digitization is the process of converting information into a digital format. This means that information is organized into discrete units of data called bits that can be stored, processed, and transmitted by computers. Digitization is used to represent various forms of information, such as objects, images, sounds, documents, or signals, by generating a series of numbers that describe a discrete set of points. The term digitization is often used when diverse forms of information are converted into a single binary code. Digitizing is the primary way of storing images in a form suitable for transmission and computer processing, whether scanned from two-dimensional analog originals or captured using an image sensor-equipped device such as a digital camera, tomographical instrument such as a CAT scanner, or acquiring precise dimensions from a real-world object, such as a car, using a 3D scanning device.

In the context of libraries, archives, and museums, digitization is a means of creating digital surrogates of analog materials, such as books, newspapers, microfilm, and videotapes, offering a variety of benefits, including increasing access, especially for patrons at a distance; contributing to collection development, through collaborative initiatives; enhancing the potential for preservation and conservation; and providing new opportunities for research and scholarship.

Digitization is often confused with digitalization, which refers to enabling or improving processes by leveraging digital technologies and digitized data. Digital transformation is the process of using digital technologies to create new or improved business processes, products, and services.