NNULLTRACE
NullTrace/Blog/PII Redaction vs Anonymization vs Pseudonymization

NULLTRACE TECHNICAL BLOG · 28 SEPTEMBER 2026

PII Redaction vs Anonymization vs Pseudonymization

The practical differences between these related transformations in LLM workflows.

Redaction, anonymization, and pseudonymization are related but not interchangeable labels. For an LLM workflow, start by asking what data the model actually needs.

Redaction

mario.rossi@example.com
        ↓
[REDACTED]

Placeholder replacement

mario.rossi@example.com
        ↓
{{EMAIL_1}}

A reversible mapping is a separate design decision. Whether a transformation is legally considered anonymization or pseudonymization depends on the context and retained linkability.

PII guide · GDPR-oriented guide

NEXT STEP

Put the privacy boundary in code.

Start with one protected request and expand from there.

Open quickstart →