In computing, a hash is a fixed length output value computed from an arbitrary length input. As an example, it is unsafe to store plain-text passwords anywhere, so it is usual for a computer to hash the password and store that. Any slight change to the input has a large and unpredictable change on the output.

The SHA-256 hashing function produces a 256 bit result from any input. Given that a hexadecimal (hex) character has values between 0 and 15 (0 to F in hex), how may hex characters are needed to print an SHA-256 hash?

Author: Leslie Green