Learn about data security, encryption, hashing and encoding in our knowledge base.
Encoding, hashing, and encryption are all techniques that are used to convert data into a different form, but they differ in how they are used and the level of security they provide.
Encoding is the process of converting data into a different representation, such as converting text to binary or ASCII code. Encoding is typically used for data storage or transmission, and it does not provide any security.
Hashing is the process of generating a fixed-size value, known as a hash, from input data. Hashing algorithms are designed to be one-way functions, meaning that it is not possible to recreate the original input data from the hash. Hashing is commonly used for storing passwords and verifying the integrity of data, but it does not provide any confidentiality.
Encryption is the process of converting data into a form that is unreadable without a secret key. Encryption algorithms use a key to encrypt and decrypt the data, and they are designed to be secure. Encryption is commonly used to protect sensitive data, such as financial transactions or personal information.
In summary, encoding is used to represent data in a different form, hashing is used to generate a fixed-size value from data and verify its integrity, and encryption is used to protect data by making it unreadable without a secret key.