hash function

1 definition found

hash function - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  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)