Hash (cryptography)
In cryptography a hash or message digest is a fixed-size digest which can be calculated from an input text of any size up to some large limit. While cryptographic principles are used, these functions are used in manners quite different than two-way, or even one-way full-text cryptographically protected communications. The primary applications of hashes and message digests are as means of error detection, source authentication, or data integrity protection.
MD4 and descendants
MD4
Message Digest algorithm number 4 was from Ron Rivest. It is no longer used, replaced by its descendants. A specification is in RFC 1320.
MD5
RFC 1321 gives a specification and RFC 1820 a performance analysis.
RIPE-MD
This was a European standard.
SHA
SHA-1
SHA-2
Other 20th century hashes
Tiger
Whirlpool
The Advanced Hash Standard
In 2005, the US National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) began the process of defining a new hash standard, SHA-3' or the Advanced Hash Standard or just AHS. The overall process and methodology are similar to what they did for the AES contest, choosing a new cipher standard which became the advanced Encryption Standard. Target date for completion of the process and release of the new standard is 2012.
Skein
From Bruce Schneier and others: [1]
MD6
From a team led by Ron Rivest.
CubeHash
From Dan Bernstein, [2]
Essence
From Jason Worth Martin [3]
Sgàil
Peter Maxwell [4]
EnRUPT
Sean O'Neil [5]
NaSha
Smile Markovski and Aleksandra Mileva [6]
Maraca
Robert Jenkins [7]