# Hash

Creates an algorithmic hash of an object

## Method Signature

```
Hash(input=[any], algorithm=[string], encoding=[string], numIterations=[integer])
```

### Arguments

| Argument        | Type      | Required | Description                                                                                                           | Default |
| --------------- | --------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `input`         | `any`     | `true`   | The item to be hashed                                                                                                 |         |
| `algorithm`     | `string`  | `false`  | The supported {@link java.security.MessageDigest} algorithm (case-insensitive) or "quick" for an insecure 64-bit hash | `MD5`   |
| `encoding`      | `string`  | `false`  | Applicable to strings ( default "utf-8" )                                                                             | `utf-8` |
| `numIterations` | `integer` | `false`  |                                                                                                                       | `1`     |

## Examples

### SHA-256 Hash Example

Returns 64 character hex result.

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJzLSCzO0FBQKs7PTS3JyMxLV9JRUAr2cNQ1MjUDMUND3HQtlBQ0rbkAAfEKpw%3D%3D)

```java
hash( "something", "SHA-256", "UTF-8" );

```

Result: 3fc9b689459d738f8c88a3a48aa9e33542016b7a4052e001aaa536fca74813cb

### MD5 Hash Example

MD5 is not recommended for use requiring security.

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJzLSCzO0FBQKs7PTS3JyMxLV1LQtOYCAE8ZBo0%3D)

```java
hash( "something" );

```

Result: 437b930db84b8079c2dd804a71936b5f

### Additional Examples

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJx1zLsOgjAYQOGdp%2FjDBIOUQqEQ4sClxsVV52IrNCmXlJLo24sa4%2BR8Tj6E4MyN4q2WOy3HzvawWKPGboHZTGK9SripuxTf2POll0vgqHFeLezBPUqtJ7hMRgu3cMQ6zN578uCz%2BOAXgBBUOCyzpsIpYSFNCA6TipZ5XjEasfjAkp944uaxEQI4aGWtlqD50AZ%2FdefF12Wekk2ntEkITVmJMWMNZjiLaR2TyHkC1LhEYQ%3D%3D)

```java
// Variable-length strings produce fixed-length hashes.
input = "Hello World";
dump( hash( input ) ); // B10A8DB164E0754105B7A99BE72E3FE5
input = "Mary had a little lamb.";
dump( hash( input ) );
 // CA964B1677D5476EA11EED1E1837C342

```

```java
// Different algorithms are supported.
input = "Hello World";
dump( hash( input ) ); // B10A8DB164E0754105B7A99BE72E3FE5
dump( hash( input, "QUICK" ) ); // 6b736ba1c9a95606
dump( hash( input, "MD5" ) ); // B10A8DB164E0754105B7A99BE72E3FE5
dump( hash( input, "bxmX_COMPAT" ) ); // B10A8DB164E0754105B7A99BE72E3FE5
dump( hash( input, "SHA" ) ); // 0A4D55A8D778E5022FAB701977C5D840BBC486D0
dump( hash( input, "SHA-256" ) ); // A591A6D40BF420404A011733CFB7B190D62C65BF0BCDA32B57B277D9AD9F146E
dump( hash( input, "SHA-384" ) ); // 99514329186B2F6AE4A1329E7EE6C610A729636335174AC6B740F9028396FCC803D0E93863A7C3D90F86BEEE782F4F3F
dump( hash( input, "SHA-512" ) ); // 2C74FD17EDAFD80E8447B0D46741EE243B7EB74DD2149A0AB1B9246FB30382F27E853D8585719E0E67CBDA0DAA8F51671064615D645AE27ACB15BFB1447F459B
// The default, MD5 and bxmX_COMPAT algorithms are all MD5.
dump( hash( input ) == hash( input, "MD5" ) && hash( input, "MD5" ) == hash( input, "bxmX_COMPAT" ) );
 // true

```

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJy1kVFPwjAQx5%2FZp7j0CQKGdmOMMWqySQ0%2BGB808bmDwhq7jXRd1Bi%2Bu900C0YS4cGX9tL73%2F%2Fud5XFvjZAAa2EUiU8l1ptUOSMx%2FCUCSjqPBUayi1IIzQ3siwqWGe82AkwNp%2FxKnM2db7vt2EfZGNH23PUVN91ZZTAAAYRWOeE4Hi2TMh0wnDgTwj2kyAOw4QFLvNumX%2BuY9g5%2BozceHhyuwy9MEkY8YIZW4ZBwNx46U4Tv%2BH5UQtKVJVF4AUQ4FpAJQyYEsi5vbHtTekl1EbXopnjvrTtjtZp%2BIuAvHk0Mm8VBGMMj6v4yiduNbIDdmoQfJ3Nwc8rJ32bN3oN5n0vKJKFkoVAoHgqFEV%2FWCD4cHrbUtvR7d%2FjyF6Ltq2NhkM7sk33TrBxtSu1NFlO0bc5OgEcOb2Dc3BerVI81MZW9gEtUn2NmtwJQHy8jy9El1zM%2BMvlPylxh%2FkJW0D9hg%3D%3D)

```java
input = "Hello World";
// The number of iterations change the hash
dump( hash( input=input, numIterations=1 ) ); // B10A8DB164E0754105B7A99BE72E3FE5
dump( hash( input=input, numIterations=9 ) ); // 5E1C304FD939BBE1378ED977E2AD26B5
// numIterations less than 1 are set to 1
dump( hash( input=input, numIterations=0 ) == hash( input=input, numIterations=1 ) ); // true
// More iterations take more time
// 1000 SHA-512s, 1 iteration each: 5ms
bx:timer type="inline" label="1000 SHA-512s, 1 iteration each" {
	for( i = 0; i < 1000; i++ ) {
		hash( input=input, algorithm="SHA-512", numIterations=1 );
	}
}
writeOutput( "<br>" );
// 1000 SHA-512s, 10 iterations each: 21ms
bx:timer type="inline" label="1000 SHA-512s, 10 iterations each" {
	for( i = 0; i < 1000; i++ ) {
		hash( input=input, algorithm="SHA-512", numIterations=10 );
	}
}

```

## Related

* [Decrypt](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/decrypt.md)
* [DecryptBinary](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/decryptbinary.md)
* [Encrypt](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/encrypt.md)
* [EncryptBinary](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/encryptbinary.md)
* [GeneratePBKDFKey](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/generatepbkdfkey.md)
* [GenerateSecretKey](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/generatesecretkey.md)
* [Hash40](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/hash40.md)
* [Hmac](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/hmac.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/encryption/hash.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.