What does decoding refer to in reading development?

Decoding in reading development refers specifically to the process of translating printed words into spoken language by matching letters or groups of letters with their corresponding sounds. This skill is fundamental for early readers as it allows them to read aloud and understand the relationship between phonemes (the sounds of spoken language) and graphemes (the letters or groups of letters in writing). As children decode, they begin to develop fluency in reading, facilitating comprehension. Decoding is a vital step in learning to read effectively, enabling students to recognize words and understand texts as a whole. This process occurs before more advanced skills such as understanding context, summarizing, or analyzing an author’s purpose can be fully developed.