Definition
Hash Function
A math process that turns any document into a short, fixed-length string of characters, like a digital fingerprint.
In Depth
Feed a document through a hash function and you get a compact code out the other end. The useful trick is sensitivity: change one comma and the code comes out completely different. That is how software can instantly tell whether a signed document has been altered since it was signed. Hash functions sit quietly at the heart of nearly every digital signature.
Consistent across the US, UK and EU. This is pure mathematics and a global technical standard, so it does not vary by region at all.
Sources
- NIST Computer Security Resource Center Glossary - A function on bit strings in which the length of the output is fixed. Official Guidance csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/hash_function