ionCube is a software company known for its PHP encoding, encryption, obfuscation, and licensing solutions. Their flagship product, the ionCube PHP Encoder, is widely used to protect PHP code by converting it into bytecode, making it resistant to reverse engineering. This tool is valuable for developers who wish to safeguard their intellectual property while distributing PHP applications. ionCube also provides Loader software, which facilitates the execution of encoded files. The company is recognized for enhancing the security and performance of PHP applications.