See:
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Block_hashing_algorithm
The exact hash done is double-sha256: sha256(sha256(block_header_data))
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHA-2
... for information about sha256
Topic: Is there any general explanation of this? (Read 1080 times)
Other than the source code, I have not been able to find any mention of how exactly bitcoin generates a sha256 hash? It seems like some simple "How things work" documentation might really help with adoption and understanding? I do know that it is written in the source, but I am awful at reading C++ code?
For instance, I am not even sure exactly what is being hashed? Is it the concatenation of the last winning hash message and a randomly generated message? What are the lengths of each of these messages (I would assume 256)?
Is it like this:
sha256(<256 bit original message> + <256 bit generated message)) ? Then check if it has the correct number of leading zero's?
Thank you.
For instance, I am not even sure exactly what is being hashed? Is it the concatenation of the last winning hash message and a randomly generated message? What are the lengths of each of these messages (I would assume 256)?
Is it like this:
sha256(<256 bit original message> + <256 bit generated message)) ? Then check if it has the correct number of leading zero's?
Thank you.
Jump to: