What is the “information” that falls in to black holes?

is the information mass? Or what? As I understand it the tidal forces would have enough energy to rip objects down to their individual atoms but not break apart the atoms into quarks.

So is the “information” just individual atoms?

I love physics lectures but am bothered by them saying “information” is preserved but don’t explain what form that “information” takes. Like that’s why it’s a big deal right? That “information” (once it leaves the black hole via evaporarion)tells us something about itself before falling into the black hole?