MurmurHash1

MurmurHash1 is a non-cryptographic hash function created by Austin Appleby in 2007. It is part of the MurmurHash family, known for its speed and good distribution properties. MurmurHash1 was designed to be a fast hash function for general-purpose use, particularly in hash tables.

The algorithm works by taking an input string and a seed value. It processes the input in blocks, performing a series of bitwise operations, multiplications, and rotations. These operations are designed to thoroughly mix the bits of the input, resulting in a hash value that is sensitive to small changes in the input. The initial version, MurmurHash1, was later superseded by MurmurHash2, which offered improved performance and better avalanche effect.

MurmurHash1 is not suitable for cryptographic applications where collision resistance against malicious attacks is required. Its primary strengths lie in its speed and simplicity, making it a good choice for applications where performance is critical and the risk of adversarial input is low, such as in internal data structures. It is often found in libraries and open-source projects that require a fast and effective hashing mechanism.