Term: Hash algorithm

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Term: Hash algorithm

Definition:

A hash algorithm is a function that converts a data string into a numeric string output of fixed length. The output string is generally much smaller than the original data. Hash algorithms are designed to be collision-resistant, meaning that there is a very low probability that the same string would be created for different data. Two of the most common hash algorithms are the MD5 (Message-Digest algorithm 5) and the SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm). MD5 Message Digest checksums are commonly used to validate data integrity when digital files are transferred or stored.

Category:

General

See also:

MD5 (checksum)