How reliable is using MD5 checksum for indexing and retrieving scanned documents in a database?

Using MD5 checksum for indexing and retrieving scanned documents in a database is not the most reliable method. MD5 is known to have collisions, meaning two different inputs can produce the same hash value. This can lead to incorrect retrieval of documents or potential security vulnerabilities. It is recommended to use more secure hashing algorithms like SHA-256 for indexing and retrieving documents in a database. 

// Use SHA-256 hashing algorithm for indexing and retrieving scanned documents in a database
$document = 'example_document.pdf';
$hash = hash('sha256', $document);

// Store the document in the database along with its SHA-256 hash
// When retrieving the document, compare the stored hash with the newly generated hash to ensure integrity

Keywords

MD5 checksum indexing retrieving scanned documents database

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