# getSHA256

## `getSHA256` Function

The `getSHA256` function generates a **SHA-256 hash** from a given input string using Node.js’ built-in [`crypto`](https://nodejs.org/api/crypto.html#cryptocreatehashalgorithm-options) module. It supports configurable **encoding formats** for output customization.

***

### Purpose

Use `this.getSHA256` to:

* Generate **secure, one-way hashes** of input values
* Anonymize sensitive data such as user IDs, IPs, or email addresses
* Create consistent, tamper-proof identifiers across systems

***

### Function Definition

| Property          | Description                          |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| **Function Name** | `this.getSHA256`                     |
| **Type**          | `function`                           |
| **Available In**  | Server-Side Variables                |
| **Returns**       | `string` (SHA-256 hash of the input) |

***

### Parameters

| Parameter  | Description                                           | Type     | Required                                      | Example    |
| ---------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------- | ---------- |
| `input`    | The input string to hash                              | `string` | <i class="fa-square-check">:square-check:</i> | `"secret"` |
| `encoding` | Output format of the hash (e.g., `"hex"`, `"base64"`) | `string` | <i class="fa-square-check">:square-check:</i> | `"hex"`    |

***

### Supported Encodings

See the [Node.js crypto documentation](https://nodejs.org/api/crypto.html#cryptocreatehashalgorithm-options) for full details.

Common options include:

* `hex` — Standard readable format (recommended)
* `base64` — Compact and URL-safe
* `latin1` — Raw binary encoding

***

### Example Usage

```js
async function() {
    let x = this.getSHA256("secret", "hex");
    return x;
}
```

In this example, the SHA-256 hash of the string `"secret"` is returned in hexadecimal format.

***

### Use Cases

* Anonymize personal data before storage or processing
* Create secure fingerprints for tracking without revealing raw input
* Validate content integrity across systems

***

### Notes

* SHA-256 is **cryptographically secure** and suitable for compliance-focused use cases (e.g. GDPR pseudonymization).
* Always explicitly provide the desired encoding.
* For custom algorithms or flexibility, consider using `this.getHash`.

***

### Summary

`this.getSHA256` is a secure and reliable way to hash data in JENTIS server-side variables. It’s the preferred function for anonymizing identifiers or generating hashed tokens when privacy and integrity matter.


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