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Reference.org
Skein (hash function)
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<p>Skein is a <a href="/facts/Cryptographic_hash_function/cuxkgbST">cryptographic hash function</a> and one of five finalists in the <a href="/facts/NIST_hash_function_competition/DFxbPNbx">NIST hash function competition</a>. Entered as a candidate to become the <a href="/facts/SHA-3/bA3BCp7K">SHA-3</a> standard, the successor of <a href="/facts/SHA-1/LDYCV1je">SHA-1</a> and <a href="/facts/SHA-2/P59oPeGq">SHA-2</a>, it ultimately lost to NIST hash candidate <a href="/facts/Keccak/bA3BCp7K">Keccak</a>. </p><p>The name Skein refers to how the Skein function intertwines the input, similar to a skein of yarn. </p>