If I generate a sha256 digest from some text I get one string of letters and numbers, but if I generate a key pair using bitaddress, using the same text I get a private key.
What is the relationship between the digest and the private key? -snip-
nothing, it's just both results have the same size (
256bit) so even if the other one (
SHA256 result) isn't a private key, it can be used as a private key.