How does hashing work in computer science and what are its applications in data security and encryption?

Hashing in computer science involves taking input data and generating a fixed-size string of characters, known as a hash value, using a specific algorithm. This hash value is unique to the input data and is used for various purposes, including data security and encryption.

In data security, hashing is used to verify the integrity of data by comparing hash values before and after transmission or storage. If the hash values match, it indicates that the data has not been tampered with. Hashing is also used in passWord storage, where passWords are hashed before being stored in a database to protect them from unauthorized access.

In encryption, hashing is used to securely store sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or personal data. Hashing algorithms are also used in digital signatures to verify the authenticity of a message or document.

Overall, hashing plays a crucial role in data security and encryption by providing a way to securely store and verify data integrity.