SHA-256 / document hash

A cryptographic fingerprint of a document, computed with a hash function such as SHA-256. Even the smallest change in the document — a single character — produces a completely different hash value, and it is practically impossible to construct another document with the same hash. When a document is signed electronically, its hash is stored so it can later be proven that the signed document has not been altered. The hash reveals nothing about the document's content and can therefore be shared freely as proof of integrity.