What Is SHA-256?

SHA-256, or Secure Hashing Algorithm 256-bit, is a cryptographic hash function used prominently in Bitcoin. It converts an input string into a fixed-size 256-bit alphanumeric output, irrespective of the input's length. This one-way function ensures data integrity, as the same input always yields the same hash, but the original data can't be derived from the hash. While not an encryption method, SHA-256 is pivotal in securing bitcoin transactions.