Research any topic before you write.

Find related topics. | Discover entities. | See connections. | Build a topical map.

SHA-2

SHA-2 (Secure Hash Algorithm 2) is a set of cryptographic hash functions designed by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) and first published in 2001. They are built using the Merkle–Damgård construction, from a one-way compression function itself built using the Davies–Meyer structure from a specialized block cipher.

Standards, Applications & Measurement

Use the mouse wheel or two fingers (on touchscreens) to zoom in and out of the map.

Research this topic

Explore the main themes, entities and connections around SHA-2. Start with the topic map, then use the sections below for research and deeper semantic analysis.

Explore this topic

Start with a few of the strongest sections from the source topic. These are research directions, not a list of keywords you must use.

Applications

24 related topics

Cryptanalysis and validation

16 related topics

Implementations

16 related topics

Comparison of SHA functions

11 related topics

Key facts & relationships

High-confidence facts extracted from structured source data. Use them as anchors for further research.

Certification
FIPS PUB 180-4, CRYPTREC, NESSIE
Designers
National Security Agency
Digest sizes
224, 256, 384, or 512 bits
First published
2001; 25 years ago (2001)
Rounds
64 or 80
Series
(SHA-0), SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3

Topics to explore

Browse the full topic structure. Each item opens a new analysis centered on that subject.

Overview

Hash standard

Applications

Cryptanalysis and validation

Test vectors

Pseudocode

Comparison of SHA functions

Implementations

Advanced semantic analysis

Deeper signals for content research, entity SEO and topical coverage. The plain-language headings explain what each technical view is useful for.

Map overview Semantic statistics

SHA-2

Nodes97
Edges96
Triples92
Avg. degree1.98
Density0.020619
Components1

How this topic connects Entity context

See the strongest relationship patterns around the current topic before diving into the raw triples.

SHA-2

Top relations

related to External links · 34
SHA-2 → August, Cryptographic Hash Project, CSRC Cryptographic Toolkit, Current, Descriptions, Draft, HKDF, KB, NESSIE, NIST, NISTSHA-2 Checker, Official NIST, One-way Hash Function, PDF, Proposed SHS, RFC, Secure Hash Standard, Secure Hash StandardFIPS PUB, SHA, SHA-0
has application · 17
SHA-2 → ASICs, Debian, DKIM, DNSSEC, International Criminal Tribunal, IPsec, Linux, PGP, Rwandan, S/MIME, SHA-256, SHA-512, SSH, SSL, The, The SHA-2, TLS
related to Official validation · 14
SHA-2 → As, CMVP, Communications Security Establishment, CSE, December, FIPS-approved, For, Implementations, National Institute, NIST, SHA-256, SHA-512, Standards, Technology
related to Hash standard · 12
SHA-2 → April, FIPS PUB, In August, NIST, Secure Hash Standard, SHA, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, The, With
related to Pseudocode · 5
SHA-2 → Note, Pseudocode, SHA-1, SHA-256, The
related to Implementations · 3
SHA-2 → BotanBouncy CastleCryptlibCrypto, Cryptography, LibgcryptMbed TLSlibsodiumNettleLibreSSLOpenSSLGnuTLSwolfSSL
Certification · 1
SHA-2 → FIPS PUB 180-4, CRYPTREC, NESSIE
Designers · 1
SHA-2 → National Security Agency
Digest sizes · 1
SHA-2 → 224, 256, 384, or 512 bits
First published · 1
SHA-2 → 2001; 25 years ago (2001)

Important terminology Word statistics

Use these terms to understand the vocabulary surrounding the topic, not as a checklist for keyword stuffing.

Important terminology

hash sha-512 sha-256 sha-1 nist functions function bits fips use security standard pub algorithms cryptographic initial values sha-3 message different

Entity relationships Subject–Predicate–Object triples

SubjectPredicateObjectConfidenceSrc
SHA-2CertificationFIPS PUB 180-4, CRYPTREC, NESSIE1.00infobox
SHA-2DesignersNational Security Agency1.00infobox
SHA-2Digest sizes224, 256, 384, or 512 bits1.00infobox
SHA-2First published2001; 25 years ago (2001)1.00infobox
SHA-2Rounds64 or 801.00infobox
SHA-2Series(SHA-0), SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-31.00infobox
SHA-2StructureMerkle–Damgård construction with Davies–Meyer compression function1.00infobox
SHA-2has applicationThe SHA-20.60section
SHA-2has applicationTLS0.60section
SHA-2has applicationSSL0.60section
SHA-2has applicationPGP0.60section
SHA-2has applicationSSH0.60section

Related concept clusters Concept neighborhoods

These clusters group vocabulary that occurs around closely connected concepts in the source material.

    Connections between topic areas Semantic bridges

    Bridges can reveal useful research angles that are easy to miss in a flat list of related terms.

    Min side: 3
    For writers, content strategists, SEOs, marketers and creators — from quick topic research to advanced semantic analysis.