Introduction: Let’s Put Hashing to the Test ⚙️
Now that you understand what hashing is and how it works, it’s time to see it in action.
In this lesson, we’ll walk through real examples using SHA-256, the cryptographic hash function used in Bitcoin.
You’ll quickly realize how powerful and sensitive hashing can be—even a single character change creates a totally different output. 😲
Example #1: The Original Input
Let’s take this sentence:
“BabyPips.com is cool as ice.”
When hashed using SHA-256, the output (digest) is:
A58E12FAC905B8F84EA2F64F888191A4B66A67CC45F8E7B7B0F94C37A134CB57
- 🔐 Exactly 64 characters long (fixed length)
- 🔒 Looks completely random and unreadable
- 📌 Most importantly, always the same for the same input
Example #2: Tiny Change, Big Difference
Now let’s change just one letter:
“BabyPips.com is cool as lice.”
Notice we swapped ice for lice. Here’s the new hash:
B8784EAEB1FC50719B2041FB1AEE30FF91516529CCB65B4B446CC4D5F6B4EB95
Even though we made a tiny change, the result is a completely different hash.
Let’s compare:
| Input | SHA-256 Hash |
|---|---|
| BabyPips.com is cool as ice. | A58E12FAC905B8F84EA2F64F888191A4B66A67CC45F8E7B7B0F94C37A134CB57 |
| BabyPips.com is cool as lice. | B8784EAEB1FC50719B2041FB1AEE30FF91516529CCB65B4B446CC4D5F6B4EB95 |
Example #3: One More Change
Let’s try again with another variation:
“BabyPips.com is cool as rice.”
New hash:
FCA7032BE8CF7F3C0DD75B8DEB77412E452EA5E2275BAA4125123CD639ED2C9A
Compare all three:
| Input | SHA-256 Hash |
| BabyPips.com is cool as ice. | A58E12FAC905B8F84EA2F64F888191A4B66A67CC45F8E7B7B0F94C37A134CB57 |
| BabyPips.com is cool as lice. | B8784EAEB1FC50719B2041FB1AEE30FF91516529CCB65B4B446CC4D5F6B4EB95 |
| BabyPips.com is cool as rice. | FCA7032BE8CF7F3C0DD75B8DEB77412E452EA5E2275BAA4125123CD639ED2C9A |
You can clearly see:
- ✍️ One letter change
- 🎲 Three completely different hashes
Why This Matters for Bitcoin
This drastic difference is not a bug—it’s a feature. It’s how Bitcoin:
- ✅ Detects tampering
- ✅ Ensures data integrity
- ✅ Protects blockchain security
If a hacker changes just a single number in a transaction:
- The entire block’s hash changes
- The network immediately flags it as invalid
Summary: Hashing is Sensitive and Secure 🔐
- 🔁 Same input = same output (always)
- 🔄 Even 1-letter change = totally different hash
- 📏 Output is always fixed-length (64 characters for SHA-256)
Want to try hashing yourself? Use an online SHA-256 hash generator and start experimenting. 🔍
📘 Next: We’ll explore how hashing is used in Bitcoin mining. Stay tuned on www.dailyforex.pk — your trusted resource for crypto education in Pakistan! 🇵🇰🚀