SHA-256

What Is SHA-256?

SHA-256, also referred to as SHA-256, is a cryptographic hash function utilized in the Bitcoin protocol. It generates a 256-bit long value that serves various purposes, including address creation, transaction verification, and management. In the Bitcoin network, the SHA-256 hash function is applied twice, known as double SHA-256.

This algorithm is a variant of SHA-2 (Secure Hash Algorithm 2), which was developed by the National Security Agency (NSA). Besides its usage in the Bitcoin protocol, SHA-256 is widely employed in other encryption protocols like SSL, TLS, SSH, and open source operating systems such as Unix/Linux.

One of the notable characteristics of SHA-256 is its high level of security. The internal workings of the algorithm are not publicly disclosed, making it challenging for attackers to exploit any vulnerabilities. This is why the United States government relies on SHA-256 to safeguard sensitive information, as it can verify data integrity without revealing the actual contents through digital signatures. Additionally, SHA-256 is commonly used for password verification, as it enables the storage and matching of hash values instead of storing actual passwords.

Reversing the original data from a SHA-256 generated hash value is virtually impossible. Moreover, the chances of a successful brute force attack are extremely low due to the vast number of possible combinations. The likelihood of two different data values producing the same hash, known as a collision, is also highly improbable.