32hexdigit

32hexdigit is a term used in computing to denote a string composed of 32 hexadecimal digits (characters 0-9 and a-f, case-insensitive). This length corresponds to 128 bits of data, making the value suitable for representing a wide range of binary information in text form.

Common sources of a 32hexdigit value include the hexadecimal representations of 128-bit quantities such as the output of certain hash functions, the key material for some algorithms, or the digits of a UUID without separators. In practice, it is often used as an identifier or a checksum in software systems.

Formatting conventions vary: the string is typically written in lowercase but may be uppercase in some contexts, and some languages display it with a 0x prefix. When stored, it is usually kept as a fixed-length text field, often CHAR(32) or VARCHAR(32).

Security and reliability considerations: a 32hexdigit string alone carries no guarantee of security. If it represents a hash digest, the strength depends on the underlying algorithm (for example, MD5 is considered broken for collision resistance). If it represents a random identifier, randomness and proper generation methods are essential. For security-sensitive applications, longer or differently structured identifiers from trusted schemes are preferred.

See also MD5, UUID, hash function, cryptographic key.