# What is a Cryptographic Hash?
A cryptographic hash is a mathematical function that transforms any amount of data into a fixed-length string. The same input always produces the same output, but any minimal change in the input generates a completely different hash.# Available algorithms
- MD5 (128 bits): Fast and widely supported. Considered insecure for passwords but useful for file integrity checks in non-critical environments.
- SHA-1 (160 bits): Deprecated for critical security uses since 2017. Still present in legacy systems.
- SHA-256 (256 bits): The current standard for most applications. Used in Bitcoin, TLS and code signing.
- SHA-512 (512 bits): Longer variant of SHA-2, ideal when maximum collision resistance is required.