this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2025
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Programming
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This is valid on a single unlisted assumption: The hash function has equal distribution. If your has function ends by multipliying the has value by 4, for example, your number of possible boxes is 1/4th the otherwise expected value based on the size of the hash output
The distribution is super important here too. Hashing any value to zero (or
h(x) = 0) is valid, but a terrible distribution. The challenge is getting real-world values hashed in a mostly uniform distribution to avoid collisions where possible.Still, the contents of the article are useful even outside of hashing. It should just disclaim that the width of the output isn't the only thing important in a hash function.