Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA)
Also called: SHA, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512
Course: AP® Cybersecurity Shows up in: Unit 4: Securing Devices
A family of cryptographic hash functions. SHA-256 and SHA-512 are in secure use; SHA-1 is deprecated because collisions can be forced.
Appears in the course and exam description (CED): 4.2.A.14.2.A.4
Why it matters in Unit 4
In SHA-256 and SHA-512 the number is the output length in bits (SHA-1 gives 160 bits). SHA-256 gives a 256-bit hash, shown as 64 hexadecimal characters.
Example
sha256sum report.pdf prints the file’s SHA-256 hash, which can be compared with a saved hash to check integrity.
Go deeper: the professional references
Security professionals worldwide use these: the NIST glossary (the U.S. government's official security dictionary), MITRE ATT&CK (real attacker techniques), MITRE CWE (software weaknesses) and the internet's own standards (RFCs). They go beyond the AP® course, so use the definition above for the exam.