Question 1

What is a hash function?

Accepted Answer

A hash function takes an input (or message) and returns a fixed-size string of characters, which is typically a hexadecimal number. The same input always produces the same hash, but even a tiny change in the input produces a completely different hash. Hash functions are one-way — you cannot reverse a hash to get the original input.

Question 2

What is the difference between MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256?

Accepted Answer

MD5 produces a 128-bit (32 hex character) hash and is fast but no longer considered secure for cryptographic purposes. SHA-1 produces a 160-bit (40 hex character) hash and is also deprecated for security use. SHA-256 produces a 256-bit (64 hex character) hash and is currently the standard for security applications like SSL certificates and blockchain.

Question 3

What are common uses for hash values?

Accepted Answer

Hash values are used for verifying file integrity (checking that a download was not corrupted), storing passwords securely (hashing instead of storing plain text), digital signatures, data deduplication, and checksums. They are fundamental building blocks in security and data processing.

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