How is Cryptographic Hashing useful in Blockchain Tech?

Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash

In the earlier article, we discussed cryptography in the blockchain and why it is necessary for the security of the blockchain ecosystem. Today’s article will discuss how is Cryptographic Hashing useful in Blockchain tech?

As we know, Cryptography refers to the practice of developing protocols to prevent third parties from accessing and viewing data. Modern cryptographic applications combine various disciplines such as physics, math, computer science, engineering, and others.

Cryptographic hashing is a process that transforms any data form into a unique text string. Any data can be hashed, regardless of its type, scale, length, or size. The result is a string of a fixed length.

When blockchain was first used for cryptocurrencies, it employed a predetermined hashing algorithm for transactions of varying lengths. The hashing process is unaffected by the length of the input. A Hash is a name given to the output.

One of the significant highlights in blockchain #cryptography illustrated adequately is cryptographic hashing. It is a fundamental component of blockchain technology. The most important feature of blockchain is immutability, which is enabled by hashing. Cryptographic hashing encryption does not require the use of keys.

Also read: What is Hash in Blockchain Technology? — Blockchain Shiksha

In contrast, hashing in cryptography employs a cipher or an algorithm to generate a hash value of a specific length from the input. Hashing is the process of taking any length string as input and producing a fixed length output. The use of the SHA-256 hash function is one of the most typical applications of hashing in the blockchain.

Cryptographic hash functions have several distinguishing characteristics that contribute to their usefulness in blockchain cryptography. Here’s a rundown of the characteristics that make cryptographic hash functions suitable for blockchain applications.

1. Deterministic cryptographic hash functions: No matter how many times you enter a specific input, the hash function always returns the same length output. So, whether you enter a string of 3 or 200 characters, you will get the exact length output, i.e., 32 characters in a fixed string with a combination of numbers and letters.
2. The uniqueness of output is the second important characteristic that emerges in the case of cryptographic hash functions. The exact output is created even if two different inputs are applied using cryptographic hash functions. As a result, they can provide unique functionalities for avoiding collisions.
3. Cryptographic hash functions are also strongly associated with the trait of irreversibility. Using current technology and techniques, it is virtually impossible to deduce the original input from the output.
4. The faster computation of hashes is another significant feature that establishes the significance of hash functions in blockchain and cryptography. Hash functions can generate outputs more quickly, increasing the likelihood of faster transaction completion.
5. The avalanche effect is also a prominent feature of cryptographic hash algorithms. The avalanche effect states that a minor change in the input results can result in a completely different output.

The Secure Hash Algorithm (#SHA) is the most widely used cryptographic hash function, with many variants, including #SHA1, #SHA256, #MD5, and #SHA512. Each cryptographic hash function has a distinct function, which is as follows:

(1) MD5, also known as the Message-Digest algorithm, aids in generating a 128-bit hash value.

(2) SHA1 is an improved version of SHA designed by NIST and released by FIPS or Federal Information Processing Standard.

(3) The SHA256 function computes hash values using 32-bit words, and the message digest is 256 bits long.

(4) The SHA512 function calculates hash values using 64-bit words, and the message digest is 512 bits long.

As a result, cryptographic hash functions provide unique mathematical benefits with various appealing properties. So, how do the properties of cryptographic hash algorithms relate to cryptography’s role in blockchain?

The properties of hash functions ensure the following advantages:

<1> Access to proof of ownership of specific information without disclosing it

<2> Preventing unauthorized changes to transactions

❤> Transaction confirmation verification without complete knowledge of the block

<4>Transaction bandwidth reduction

<5> Creating cryptographic puzzles for transactions

Final Thoughts: Cryptographic hash functions eliminate the need for keys, as in public-key cryptography. With the right resources, you can learn more about cryptography and its applications in the blockchain.

Please feel free to comment on the box below. Team Blockchain Shiksha would like to converse with you.

Originally published at https://blockchainshiksha.com on May 18, 2022.