SHA
a.k.a. Secure Hash Algorithm, SHA-256
A family of cryptographic hash functions; SHA-256 is the one that powers Bitcoin's mining and security.
In plain English
A family of cryptographic hash functions; SHA-256 is the one that powers Bitcoin's mining and security.
SHA stands for Secure Hash Algorithm, a family of hash functions published by the US government's standards body. They take any input and spit out a fixed-length fingerprint (a message digest). Change one character in the input and the output changes completely.
Bitcoin uses SHA-256 for its proof of work and to link blocks together. Older members of the family, like SHA-1, have been broken and are no longer considered safe.
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