Final answer:
Hashing serves several purposes including secure data storage, fast data retrieval, ensuring data integrity, providing uniqueness in identifiers, and as a fundamental component of cryptographic protocols.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is that hashing is predominantly used in the field of computers and technology for data retrieval, security, uniqueness, and data integrity. A hash function takes an input and produces a fixed-size string of bytes that appears random, which is known as a hash code or digest. The primary uses are:
- Secure data storage: Hash functions are used to securely store passwords such that only a hash of the password is kept rather than the actual password.
- Data retrieval: Hash tables use hash functions to determine the index for storing data, which makes data retrieval processes much faster.
- Data integrity: Hashes are used to verify that data has not been altered, as a change in data will change the hash value.
- Uniqueness: In distributed systems, hashes help to ensure that identifiers are unique.
- Cryptographic functions: Hashing is a fundamental component of many cryptographic protocols, ensuring secure communication.