hash function
<programming> A hash coding function which assigns a data item
distinguished by some "key" into one of a number of possible "hash buckets" in a
hash table. The hash function is usually combined with another more precise
function.
For example a program might take a string of letters and put it in one of twenty
six lists depending on its first letter. Ideally, a hash function should
distribute items evenly between the buckets to reduce the number of hash
collisions. If, for example, the strings were names beginning with "Mr.", "Miss"
or "Mrs." then taking the first letter would be a very poor hash function
because all names would hash the same.
(1997-08-03)
Nearby terms:
hash character « hash coding « hash collision «
hash function » hashing » hash table » Haskell
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