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What is hashes?

eternal-flame-ad/hashes — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-18 · repo last pushed 2025-09-17

Audience · developerComplexity · 2/5QuietSetup · easy

In one sentence

A collection of cryptographic hash functions built in pure Rust, letting developers generate unique digital fingerprints for data to verify integrity, securely store passwords, and authenticate messages.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Data fingerprinting
      File integrity checks
      Password hashing
    Tech stack
      Rust
      WebAssembly
      Embedded systems
    Use cases
      Secure login systems
      File sharing apps
      Message authentication
    Safety features
      Broken algorithm warnings
      Per algorithm packaging
    Flexibility
      No OS dependencies
      Unified interface

Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Build a secure login system that hashes user passwords before storing them in a database.

USE CASE 2

Add checksum generation to a file-sharing app so users can verify downloads are not corrupted.

USE CASE 3

Generate message authentication codes to verify a message came from a specific sender.

USE CASE 4

Swap between different hash functions easily using a unified interface without rewriting app logic.

What is it built with?

RustWebAssembly

How does it compare?

eternal-flame-ad/hashes0verflowme/alarm-clock0xhassaan/nn-from-scratch
Stars0
LanguageCSSPython
Last pushed2025-09-172022-10-03
MaintenanceQuietDormant
Setup difficultyeasyeasymoderate
Complexity2/52/54/5
Audiencedevelopervibe coderdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Add the specific hash algorithm crate you need to your Rust project's dependencies and import it in your code.

The license information was not explicitly mentioned in the explanation.

So what is it?

A cryptographic hash function takes any piece of digital data, a password, a file, a message, and turns it into a fixed-size string of characters. Think of it as a unique digital fingerprint for that data. The RustCrypto: Hashes project provides a large collection of these hashing algorithms, all built from scratch in the Rust programming language. Developers use these tools to verify that a file hasn't been tampered with, to securely store passwords, or to confirm data integrity during transfers. The project packages each algorithm separately, so a developer only brings in the specific one they need rather than the entire collection. The README highlights well-known options like SHA-2 and SHA-3, along with newer alternatives like BLAKE3, which it recommends for new applications. It also includes older algorithms like MD5, but clearly flags them with broken heart icons to warn developers that these have known security vulnerabilities and should be avoided for sensitive operations. This straightforward rating system helps teams quickly assess the safety of each option. A developer building a secure login system might use one of these packages to hash user passwords before saving them to a database, ensuring the actual passwords are never stored in plain text. Alternatively, someone building a file-sharing app could use these functions to generate a checksum for each file, allowing users to verify their downloads completed successfully without corruption. The project also supports advanced uses like generating message authentication codes, which verify that a message genuinely came from a specific sender and wasn't altered in transit. One notable aspect of the project is its flexibility. All the algorithms are designed to work without relying on the computer's standard operating system features. This means they can run in highly constrained environments like embedded microcontrollers, or in modern web applications using WebAssembly. The project also provides a unified interface, meaning developers can write code that easily swaps between different hash functions without having to rewrite their application logic.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
How do I use the SHA-2 hash function from the RustCrypto hashes project to hash a user password in my Rust application?
Prompt 2
Show me how to generate a BLAKE3 checksum for a file using the RustCrypto hashes crate so I can verify it wasn't corrupted during download.
Prompt 3
How can I use the RustCrypto hashes project to hash data in a WebAssembly application without relying on the operating system?
Prompt 4
Which hash functions in the RustCrypto hashes collection are marked as broken or insecure, and which one is recommended for new applications?

Frequently asked questions

What is hashes?

A collection of cryptographic hash functions built in pure Rust, letting developers generate unique digital fingerprints for data to verify integrity, securely store passwords, and authenticate messages.

Is hashes actively maintained?

Quiet — no commits in 6-12 months (last push 2025-09-17).

What license does hashes use?

The license information was not explicitly mentioned in the explanation.

How hard is hashes to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is hashes for?

Mainly developer.

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