Technology
How does hashing work?
Hashing turns any input — a password, file, or message — into a fixed-length string of characters using a one-way math function. The same input always gives the same hash, but you can't reverse it back, which makes it ideal for verifying data and storing passwords.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how hashing works.
Step by step
- 1It converts any input into a fixed-length 'hash'.
- 2The same input always produces the same hash.
- 3It's one-way — you can't reverse it to the input.
- 4It's used for passwords, integrity checks, and blockchains.
Frequently asked questions
- How does hashing work?
- A one-way function turns any input into a fixed-length string; the same input always yields the same hash.
- Why are passwords hashed?
- So the actual password isn't stored — only its hash — making stolen data far harder to misuse.
- What's the difference between hashing and encryption?
- Encryption is reversible with a key; hashing is one-way and can't be reversed back to the input.