SHA 256 With Java

What is SHA-256?

The SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm) is one of several cryptographic hash functions. A cryptographic hash is like a signature for a text or a data file. SHA-256 algorithm generates an almost-unique, fixed-size 256-bit (32-byte) hash. Hash is a one-way function – it cannot be decrypted back. This makes it suitable for password validation, challenge hash authentication, anti-tamper, digital signatures.

SHA-256 is one of the successor hash functions to SHA-1 and is one of the strongest hash functions available.