HMAC-MD5

HMAC-MD5 is a method used to verify data integrity and authenticity. It combines a secret key with the message and applies the MD5 hashing algorithm to produce a unique code called a "hash." This hash acts like a digital fingerprint; if the message or key changes, the hash will change, alerting to potential tampering. HMAC-MD5 ensures that only someone with the secret key can generate or verify the hash, making it useful for secure message exchange and data validation. Despite being secure, MD5 has known vulnerabilities, so other algorithms are often recommended today.