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Semicolony ELI5 · comic

Hashing vs encryption.

A one-way fingerprint you can never reverse, versus a locked box you can reopen with the right key.

  1. In goes the password.
    hunter2 one way
    1

    Hashing drops your data into a one-way blender and you can never get it back.

  2. Always the same size.
    "hi" a whole novel… hash a1f9c7e2 always 8 long
    2

    Out comes a fixed-size smoothie — same length whether you fed it a word or a novel.

  3. Matches the stored one.
    typed now a1f9c7e2 stored a1f9c7e2 =
    3

    That is the point: to check a password, hash what was typed and compare smoothies.

  4. Locked, not blended.
    scrambled, not lost
    4

    Encryption is different: a locked box that scrambles your data but keeps it whole.

  5. Click — there it is.
    hunter2
    5

    With the right key you reopen the box and the exact original is sitting inside.

  6. Need it back? Box it.
    need it back? yes encrypt never hash
    6

    Pick by one question: will you ever need it back? If yes, encrypt. If never, hash.

A blender you can never run backwards, versus a box you can reopen with the key.
Semicolony semicolony.dev/eli5/hashing-vs-encryption/comic
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