Hash functions are integral in every programmer’s work, from optimizing database queries to securing data. But what exactly are hash functions and how do they work? This post breaks down the basics of hash functions, including how to measure their effectiveness and what makes them good. The article provides visualizations to demonstrate concepts such as collisions and the avalanche effect. Additionally, the post explores the practical use of hash maps, a data structure that stores key-value pairs. The article concludes by discussing the potential dangers of hash collisions in real-world scenarios and how to mitigate them using randomization techniques.
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