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What does "hash" mean in programming?
hash is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.
Definition
The output of a hash function, which converts an input of any size into a fixed-size value. Hashes are used in hash tables (for fast lookups), checksums, and cryptographic functions (for password storage).
Example
"Store the password hash, not the plain text password, so a database breach does not expose user passwords."
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