About SHA256 hash
SHA-256 is a member of the SHA-2 (Secure Hash Algorithm 2) family of cryptographic hash functions. It produces a 256-bit (32-byte) hash value, typically represented as a 64-character hexadecimal number. SHA-256 is widely used in various security applications and protocols.
How SHA-256 Works:
- Padding: The input message is padded so that its length is a multiple of 512 bits, leaving space for the message length.
- Appending Length: The original message length (in bits) is appended to the end of the padded message.
- Initializing Variables: SHA-256 initializes eight variables to specific constants. These variables serve as the initial hash values for the algorithm.
- Processing Message in Blocks: The padded message is processed in 512-bit blocks. Each block undergoes several rounds of hashing using logical and bitwise operations.
- Updating the Hash Value: After processing each block, the hash value is updated according to the algorithm's rules.
- Final Hash Value: Once all blocks are processed, the resulting hash value is the SHA-256 hash of the input message.
SHA-256 offers robust security and is resistant to collision attacks. It is commonly used in digital signatures, SSL/TLS certificates, cryptocurrency mining, and many other cryptographic applications requiring data integrity and security.