In encoding systems and methods, data or information is encoded using one or more encoding methodologies to generate encoded data or information corresponding to the data or information. Similarly, in decoding systems and methods, encoded data or information is decoded using one or more decoding methodologies to generate the data or information corresponding to the encoded data or information. The encoding/decoding systems and methods can include polar encoding/decoding systems and methods operable for encoding data or information to generate polar codes and for decoding polar codes to generate the corresponding data or information. The information or data can be control information and application data for communication over networks. The networks can include wireless and wireline networks, and network segments, links or channels, including mixed wireline and wireless networks.