How do I implement hash functions in C#?

How do I implement hash functions in C#?

To implement hash functions in C#, you can use the built-in System.Security.Cryptography namespace. For example, you can use SHA256 or MD5 classes to create hash values.

Can you show me a code example using SHA256?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

using System;
using System.Security.Cryptography;
using System.Text;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        string input = "Hello, World!";
        using (SHA256 sha256 = SHA256.Create())
        {
            byte[] bytes = sha256.ComputeHash(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(input));
            StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
            foreach (byte b in bytes)
            {
                builder.Append(b.ToString("x2"));
            }
            Console.WriteLine(builder.ToString());
        }
    }
}

What are the differences between SHA256 and MD5?

SHA256 is more secure than MD5 and produces a longer hash value (256 bits vs. 128 bits). MD5 is faster but more vulnerable to collisions.

Are there any libraries that can help with hash functions?

Yes, besides the built-in classes, you can use libraries like BouncyCastle for more advanced cryptographic functions.