A hash is a cryptographic function that transforms any data input into a fixed sequence of characters, acting as a 'fingerprint' of the original data. Hashes are widely used to verify file integrity, securely store passwords, and validate digital signatures.
Confirm if files have been altered by comparing their hashes.
Companies use specialized algorithms (bcrypt, Argon2) to store passwords securely.
Hashes are used to create and verify digital signatures.