Homonym: hash (Food)
A "hash" is a function that takes an input (or "message") and produces a fixed-size string of characters, which is typically a sequence of numbers and letters. This output, known as a hash value or hash code, is unique to each unique input. Hash functions are commonly used in computer science for data integrity, password storage, and digital signatures.
In the context of data structures, a hash can also refer to a hash table, which is a way of organizing data for quick access. In a hash table, data is stored in an array format, and a hash function determines where each piece of data should be placed, allowing for efficient retrieval.