SHA-256

SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) is a cryptographic hash function that produces a fixed-size, 256-bit (32-byte) hash value, or "digital fingerprint," from any input data, serving as the foundational proof-of-work algorithm for the Bitcoin blockchain and ensuring data integrity across numerous digital security applications. The algorithm is a core component of the SHA-2 family, designed by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS).