While you may not see it for yourself, much of the data flying around in the digital space is converted or coded into different forms. Two critical cryptographic operations on any computing device are hashing and encryption.

But how exactly do these two operations work? And how do hashing and encryption differ from one another?

What Is Hashing?

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Hashing is a one-way cryptographic process that involves converting a given key (or line of characters) into a different value.

Hashing is carried out for a number of reasons, the first of which is to validate the authenticity of different kinds of data input. Additionally, hashing can be used within authentication systems so that sensitive data is not stored on devices in plaintext.

The hashing process requires a hash function to work. A hash function can come in many different forms but is generally used to map random sizes of data into fixed values. It is the mathematical algorithm needed for hashing to take place. It fits these arbitrary pieces of data into set tables or a similar data structure.

The result of hashing is known as a hash. Hashes usually consist of a string of characters that are shorter in length than that of the original data before hashing. The hash formed in the hashing process is often determined by the hash function.

Because hashing is one-way, it is entirely irreversible. So, the data cannot be transformed back into its original format after the hashing process has taken place. This is why hashing isn't generally used to store passwords or similar data, as such information becomes permanently indecipherable after it is converted. It is far more suited to validate documents or files.

Hashing is used on blockchains for security reasons. The production of hashes on these blockchains makes it virtually impossible for an attacker to infiltrate the network and cause damage.

So, can all the same things be said for encryption, or does it differ drastically from hashing?

What Is Encryption?

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You've probably heard of encryption before, as it's a term used by VPN companies to describe how they handle your internet traffic. But encryption has a wide range of uses that stretch beyond VPNs, and it's important to understand how it works so that you know what's being done with your sensitive information.

In fact, you're using encryption already, perhaps without even realizing it...

Encryption is a two-way cryptographic process that scrambles data and makes it indecipherable to anyone, except for the authorized parties. Data is converted from plaintext to ciphertext, protecting it from malicious use.

People can even encrypt their own data to keep it safe.

Because encryption is reversible, any parties that are authorized to access the encrypted data can use an encryption key, or binary key (a mathematical algorithm), to decrypt it back to plaintext.

Like hashing, encryption requires an algorithm to scramble the data in the first place. Different levels of encryption can be used, all of which have different bit sizes. As hackers become more sophisticated, a higher bit number is needed to make the cracking process that much harder for them to complete.

Though encryption used to involve only 40 or so bits, 128-bit encryption is now used in most standard processes, while government agencies tend to use 256-bit encryption. There are also different kinds of encryption that can be used depending on the scenario, including hybrid, symmetric, and public-key encryption.

Public-key encryption, for instance, involves making one encryption key private and one public. It is also known as asymmetric encryption. Data encrypted with the public key can only be decrypted with the private key, and data encrypted with the private key can only be decrypted with the public key.

This kind of encryption is used in HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, to increase the security levels of online browsing.

Encryption and Hashing Play Huge Roles in Computing

While hashing and encryption both differ from each other in a number of ways, both are truly integral in how our everyday tech devices and systems work. Whether passwords need scrambling, or networks need securing, hashing and encryption are incredible protocols that have been lending a hand in digital security for decades.