Which of the following is an example of a hashing algorithm?

SHA-256 is a widely recognized hashing algorithm that belongs to the SHA-2 family of cryptographic hash functions. Hash functions take an input (or "message") and produce a fixed-size string of characters, which is typically a digest that represents the input data. The primary purpose of SHA-256 is to ensure data integrity, allowing users to verify that data has not been altered. It generates a 256-bit hash value that is highly resistant to collisions, meaning it is extremely unlikely that two different inputs will produce the same hash output.

Understanding the characteristics of hashing algorithms is important, especially their role in ensuring data integrity and security in various applications, such as digital signatures and password hashing. Other options, such as RSA, AES, and Blowfish, serve different functions: RSA is an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm used for secure key exchange and encryption, while AES and Blowfish are symmetric encryption algorithms used for securing data confidentiality.