Keccak is a cryptographic hash function that serves as the basis for the SHA-3 standard, which was selected by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2012. It is designed to provide secure hashing for various applications, including digital signatures and data integrity verification. Keccak uses a unique sponge construction, allowing it to absorb input data and produce variable-length outputs. The design of Keccak emphasizes security against various attack vectors, making it resistant to collision and pre-image attacks. Its flexibility in output size and efficiency in processing make it suitable for a wide range of cryptographic applications, enhancing overall data security.