20byte

20byte typically refers to a data length of twenty bytes (160 bits). In cryptography and data identifiers, 20-byte values are common because several widely used digests and addresses conform to this length. For example, the SHA-1 hash function produces a 160-bit (20-byte) output, and RIPEMD-160 likewise yields 20 bytes. In blockchain contexts, Ethereum addresses are 20 bytes long, and many content-addressable systems use 20-byte identifiers as compact references. Because 20 bytes strikes a balance between size and collision resistance in some applications, it remains a frequently encountered fixed length in various protocols.

Separately, 20byte has also been used as a brand name or project identifier by different, unrelated entities. In these cases, it is not tied to a single official standard, and information about the project should be sought from its own documentation. When encountered in software repositories, product pages, or technical discussions, the term typically signals a focus on compact, fixed-size identifiers or data representations in that project.

Representation of 20-byte values is commonly shown as hexadecimal strings of 40 characters, sometimes with a 0x prefix, or encoded in Base58 or other schemes when used in user-facing identifiers. In practice, the use of 20-byte identifiers spans several domains, including cryptographic digests, blockchain addresses, and fixed-size references in data schemas.