Newb question: What is a hash? How is it generated?
Hash is an encrypted value or set of values generated by compressing data of arbitrary size to data of fixed size using a hashing algorithm. It saves storage space and ensures high level of security of the hashed data.
Hashes are generated by hashing algorithm and there various types. For example, bitcoin uses SHA-256 whiile ethereum uses keccak-256, but both algorithms create 256-bit hash irrespective of the size of the input string.