What is Adler-32?
Adler-32 is a fast checksum algorithm that outputs a 32-bit value (usually 8 hexadecimal characters). It is designed for accidental error detection, not for cryptographic security.
Key points:
- Fast and deterministic: The same input always returns the same output
- Integrity check: Useful for transfer or storage corruption detection
- Not cryptographic: Do not use for passwords, signatures, or anti-tampering
Common uses:
- File transfer checks
- Archive/package verification
- Lightweight integrity checks