SHA-256, which stands for Secure Hash Algorithm, is a cryptographic hash function that converts any input data to a fixed alphanumeric string of 256 bits. Developed by the U.S. Government’s National Security Agency (NSA), SHA-256 is the most preferred cryptographic hash function for data security.

The hashing algorithm is considered highly secure as it generates unique and irreversible hash values. Thus, it is the most preferred security mechanism that is widely used in various security applications like digital signatures, password authentication, blockchain, cryptocurrencies, etc.