Hashing and Cryptography techniques used in Blockchain Technology in 2020

[Jenna Maria]

Hashing and Cryptography techniques used in Blockchain Technology in 2020

What Is a Hash?
A hash is a function that changes an input of letters and numbers into an encrypted output of a fixed length. A hash is generated using an algorithm. And it is an essential part of blockchain management in cryptocurrency. Hashing in blockchain refers to an output item of a fixed length regardless of input length. If we apply the example of blockchain use in cryptocurrencies, transactions of different lengths are run through a given hashing algorithm of a fixed output size without the concern of the size of input transaction and then output is a hash.

For example: Bitcoin’s Secure Hashing Algorithm 256. Hashing using SHA-256 always gives an output result of a fixed length, which has a 256-bits length. This is always the case whether the transaction is just a single word or a complex transaction with huge amounts of data. It means that keeping track of a transaction becomes easier when you can trace the hash. The hash's size will depend on the utilization of hash functioning,, but the out usiTheshash's size algorithm will be of a particular size.

When you make a YouTube video of 50 megabytes and hash it using SHA-256, the output will be a hash of 256-bits in length. Similarly, if you take a text message of 5 kilobytes, the output hash will still be 256 bits. The only difference between the two will be the hash pattern. Let’s summarize the above information as follows: Hashing is the umbrella term for Cryptographic hash functions.

KEY Terms of Hashing
1. A hash is a process that meets the encrypted demands needed to solve for a blockchain computation.
2. A hash, like a solution, is the backbone of the blockchain network.
3. Hashes though have a a fixed length but encryption makes it nearly impossible to guess the hash's length if someone was trying to crack the blockchain.
4. A hash is developed on the information present in the blockchain

How does a Hash Work?
Main strength of a cryptocurrency is the blockchain, a global ledger formed by linking individual blocks of transaction data. The blockchain only contains verified transactions. This blockchain prevents false transactions and double sending of the cryptocurrency. The produced encrypted value is a series of numbers and letters that do not resemble the original data and is called a hash. Cryptocurrency mining includes working with this hash to perform mining in a highly secure way and free of scams.

Hashing commands processing the data from a block through a mathematical function. It ends in an output of a fixed length. Using a fixed-length output increases security since anyone trying to decrypt the hash won’t tell how long or short the input is simply by looking at the length of the output.

Solving the hash begins with the data accessible in the block header and is essentially solving a difficult mathematical problem. Each block header contains a version number, a timestamp, the hash used in the previous block, the hash of the Merkle Root, the nonce, and the target hash.

The miner focuses on the nonce, a series of numbers. This number included in the hashed contents of the previous block. And which is hashed. Suppose this new hash is less than or equal to the target hash. Then, it is acknowledged as a solution. The miner is given the reward, and the block is added to the blockchain successfully.

Cryptographic hash functions
A hash function will take any transaction or data input and rehash it to generate  fixed size output output. The process of using a given hash function to process a transaction is called hashing. The transactional output of that given hash function is what we call a hash. And that should be it. There is more we need to expound on to demystify hashing in the blockchain. At this point, I want to emphasize that it is good to remember that the basic characteristic of any given hash function lies in the size of its output. This gives us the different hash functions (we will get to that in a moment).

Characteristics of cryptographic hash functions
For a cryptographic hash function to be considered secure, it has to portray certain characteristics or properties. These properties make the hash function suitable for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum that utilize blockchain technology. Let me explain each one in simple terms for us all.

[Debonaire217]

Basically, a hash is what is used in your passwords when it is saved on the database. When I type "reply" the one that will save into the database is different like "09bY8" because hashing is like encrypting and having a ciphering. Yes, it provides security since cryptocurrencies are all over the internet and its transactions too. But the down side here is the abundant amount of space needed for the storage of data.