hash function
termcryptographyprogramming
A one-way function that turns any input into a fixed-size fingerprint.
A cryptographic hash maps data to a short digest that is practically impossible to reverse and changes completely on the smallest input change. It underpins integrity checks, password storage (with salt), and signatures; a good one makes finding two inputs with the same output (a collision) infeasible.
Also known as: hash, hashing, digest, message digest