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?
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Private key encoded in WIF (wallet import format) is the same 256 bit number but in base58 with some check sums.
Example. Try to calcualate the bitcoin address from passphrase "irukandji-irukandji":
bitaddress shows you the WIF KwThwcqDd3hgbUg6T1UsAH6L4Rm3VUuxTntBsiqoznBNWT8vHUjs
the btc address 1H94mfp8QUGjs1ZnPL6XbdsRiGXwXVLfzS
sha256 digests:
~$ echo -n "irukandji-irukandji" | sha256sum
07333219cdab39342ed1fc0dc5fa621ddfa701764462fd7e3a1212bd60dbc105 -
You can go to
https://learnmeabitcoin.com/technical/wif tool and check that your sha256 hash digest is the same WIF private key