What is the process called when breaking a stream of analog information into discrete units during digitization?

The process of breaking a stream of analog information into discrete units during digitization is known as sampling. Sampling involves measuring the amplitude of an analog signal at specific intervals, which allows for the representation of the continuous signal in a discrete form. This is an essential step in the digitization process as it transforms continuous data, such as sound or images, into a format that can be processed and stored by digital systems.

Sampling is critical in various applications, including audio and video processing, as it determines how accurately the analog signal is represented in its digital form. A higher sampling rate typically results in a more accurate representation but requires more data storage and processing power.

The other options, while related to processing data, do not accurately describe the specific action of converting continuous analog signals into discrete digital samples. Qualifying and quantifying refer to different processes related to data assessment and measurement, and sectioning generally refers to dividing something into parts rather than the process of digitization itself. Thus, sampling is the correct term for this particular procedure in digitization.