How do I use hash functions in C#?

How do I use hash functions in C#?

In C#, you can use the System.Security.Cryptography namespace to access various hash functions like SHA256 and MD5.

Can you show me an example of using SHA256?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

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

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        using (SHA256 sha256Hash = SHA256.Create())
        {
            string source = "Hello World!";
            byte[] bytes = sha256Hash.ComputeHash(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(source));
            Console.WriteLine(BitConverter.ToString(bytes).Replace("-", ""));
        }
    }
}

What are the differences between SHA256 and MD5?

SHA256 is more secure than MD5 and produces a longer hash value, making it less susceptible to collisions.

When should I use hash functions?

Hash functions are commonly used for data integrity checks, password storage, and digital signatures.