What is hashing Explain any two hash functions?

Hashing is a process that transforms input data of any size into a fixed-size string of characters, typically a sequence of numbers and letters, which serves as a unique identifier for the original data. Two common hash functions are MD5 (Message Digest Algorithm 5) and SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit). MD5 produces a 128-bit hash value, commonly used for checksums and data integrity verification, but is considered weak against collision attacks. SHA-256, part of the SHA-2 family, generates a 256-bit hash and is widely used in security applications, including digital signatures and blockchain technology, due to its higher security level.