# Encryption: Hash Functions in JSONata ($md5 and $sha256)

JSONata provides cryptographic hash functions that allow values to be transformed into unique and deterministic representations.

These functions can be used to:

* **Ensure data integrity**
* **Create unique identifiers**
* **Anonymize sensitive values**
* **Ensure compatibility with external systems**

### Supported functions:

* `$md5(value)`
* `$sha256(value, digestFormat?)`

### Difference Between MD5 and SHA-256

| Algorithm | Hash Size                | Security              | Common Usage                             |
| --------- | ------------------------ | --------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| MD5       | 32 characters (128 bits) | Weak, collision-prone | Checksums, simple validation             |
| SHA-256   | 64 characters (256 bits) | Strong, recommended   | Authentication, blockchain, cryptography |

### **Function `$md5(value)`**

* **Calculates the MD5 hash of the provided value.**
* **Return: fixed 32-character hexadecimal string**
* **Digest parameter: not supported**

**Example**

<pre><code><strong>Input:
</strong>{ "status": "200" }

Expression:
$md5(status)
</code></pre>

<figure><img src="/files/o8Fu25GhGtJVbFH3Jmds" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

```
Output:
{ "data": "3644a684f98ea8fe223c713b77189a77" }
```

<figure><img src="/files/dGQ8EVRrvRVAn2CXSok4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### **Function `$sha256(value, digestFormat?)`**

* Calculates the SHA-256 hash of the provided value.
* Return: fixed 64-character hexadecimal string (by default)
* Digest parameter: supports `digestFormat` to change the output format

#### Supported formats (digestFormat)

| Value             | Description                  | Example Output             |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| `"hex"` (default) | Hexadecimal representation   | `27badc983df1780b60c2...`  |
| `"base64"`        | Standard Base64              | `J7cmD3xeAtgwrP6nToZoA...` |
| `"base64url"`     | Base64 adapted for URLs/JWTs | `J7cmD3xeAtgwrP6nToZoA...` |

### Practical Examples

**SHA-256 in hex (default)**

```
Input:
{ "status": "200" }

Expression:
$sha256(status)
```

<figure><img src="/files/cnaSK1wPYNXOZRUDsT3H" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

```
Output:
{ "data": "27badc983df1780b60c2b3fa9d3a19a00e46aac798451f0febdca52920faaddf" }
```

<figure><img src="/files/1q6JfPiOWrcEtZMgBulN" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**SHA-256 in Base64**

```
Input:
{ "status": "200" }

Expression:
$sha256(status,"base64")
```

<figure><img src="/files/8Nydt5SfX4l5OdhjXlpv" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

```
Output:
{ "data": "J7cmD3xeAtgwrP6nToZoA5GqseYRR8P69y1KSD6rd8=" }
```

<figure><img src="/files/3bc9fKI0EI5RDxHGvE8U" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

**SHA-256 in complex JSON (hex)**

```
Input:
{ "response": "{...JSON object...}" }

Expression:
$sha256(response)
```

<figure><img src="/files/zhZrA5mJWqpM6TrHBtgT" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

```
Output:
{ "data": "885826bd782b9b92cca593385729cc17ea05ca3f8f68935c5a1613102dfc066" }
```

<figure><img src="/files/SDaKrsfd8JQL3TAMs9R8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Resumo dos tipos de digest

| Digest Format | Description                          |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **hex**       | Hexadecimal representation (default) |
| **base64**    | Standard Base64 representation       |
| **base64url** | Base64 adapted for URLs/JWTs         |


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