Definition
Plain language
A short fingerprint computed from a file, so you can check it hasn't changed.
As stated in the literature
Fixed-length digest of arbitrary input under a deterministic function; identical inputs always produce identical digests, so hashing verifies byte-level equality cheaply.
Also called: hashed, hashes, hashing
Why it matters: It lets you prove two files are exactly the same without opening or transmitting them, which is how researchers confirm they are testing the identical input.
For example, after downloading a large model file you can compute its hash and compare it to the one the publisher listed to confirm nothing was corrupted or swapped.
Heard on the show
“So Autopsy is digital forensics software — chain-of-custody, hash verification, the whole investigative workflow.”Episode 017 — When the Agent Grades Its Own Homework: A Brutal New Benchmark for AI Workers