Hashing is a process that transforms input data of any size into 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, uniquely represents the original data. Hashing is commonly used in computer science for data integrity, allowing systems to verify that information has not been altered. One of the key features of hashing is that it is a one-way function, meaning it is nearly impossible to reverse-engineer the original data from the hash value. Hashing is widely utilized in various applications, including password storage, data retrieval, and digital signatures, ensuring secure and efficient data management.