Murmur-3A Checksum Calculator and Validator

Calculate and verify MurmurHash checksums for high-performance hashing

MurmurHash Checksum Generated

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About This MurmurHash Algorithm

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Complete Guide to MurmurHash Checksums

Understanding MurmurHash Checksums

MurmurHash is a non-cryptographic hash function designed for fast hashing with good collision resistance. Created by Austin Appleby, it's optimized for hash-based lookups and checksum verification, offering excellent performance across various platforms.

Key Characteristics:
  • Speed: Extremely fast hash computation
  • Quality: Good distribution and collision resistance
  • Versions: Murmur-3A, Murmur-3C, and Murmur-3F variants
  • Usage: Hash tables, bloom filters, checksums, data verification
  • Portability: Consistent results across platforms

Practical Usage Examples

1. Hash Table Implementation

MurmurHash is ideal for implementing efficient hash tables:

  1. Use MurmurHash to compute keys for data elements
  2. Distribute elements evenly across hash buckets
  3. Handle collisions with chaining or open addressing
  4. Ensure fast O(1) average lookup times
2. Data Integrity Verification

MurmurHash's speed makes it perfect for data verification:

  1. Calculate MurmurHash checksum of original data
  2. Transmit or store the data with its checksum
  3. Recalculate checksum when data is accessed
  4. Compare checksums to verify integrity

Supported MurmurHash Algorithms

Algorithm
Version
Characteristics
Common Uses
Murmur-3A
3A
32-bit output, optimized for x86
General purpose hashing, 32-bit systems
Murmur-3C
3C
128-bit output, optimized for x64
Large datasets, 64-bit systems
Murmur-3F
3F
32-bit output, improved avalanche behavior
Applications requiring better distribution

Technical Details

How MurmurHash Works

  • Processing: Processes data in 4-byte chunks (32-bit)
  • Mixing: Uses multiplication and bit rotation for mixing
  • Finalization: Final mix step combines all accumulated state
  • Avalanche: Designed for good avalanche behavior
  • Optimization: Optimized for modern CPU pipelines

Performance Characteristics

  • Speed: Processes data at ~2-3GB/s on modern CPUs
  • Quality: Good avalanche behavior and collision resistance
  • Implementation: Optimized for both small and large inputs
  • Memory: Small state size, minimal memory requirements
  • Limitations: Not cryptographically secure

Best Practices for MurmurHash Checksums

  • Choose the right version based on your needs:
    • Murmur-3A for general 32-bit hashing
    • Murmur-3C for 128-bit hashes on 64-bit systems
    • Murmur-3F for improved distribution characteristics
  • For hash tables, consider using a different seed for each instance
  • Document which MurmurHash variant you're using
  • For security-sensitive applications, use cryptographic hashes instead

Frequently Asked Questions About MurmurHash Checksums

The main MurmurHash versions differ in several ways:

  • Murmur-3A: Produces 32-bit hashes, optimized for 32-bit systems
  • Murmur-3C: Produces 128-bit hashes, optimized for 64-bit systems
  • Murmur-3F: Improved version of 3A with better distribution
  • Performance: All versions are extremely fast with slight variations
  • Quality: Newer versions have better distribution properties

For most applications, Murmur-3A or Murmur-3F are recommended.

MurmurHash is ideal when:

  1. You need extremely fast hash computation
  2. Cryptographic security is not required
  3. You're implementing hash tables or bloom filters
  4. You need good but not perfect collision resistance
  5. Performance is more critical than cryptographic properties

Common use cases include data structures, checksums, and non-cryptographic applications.

No, MurmurHash is not suitable for cryptographic purposes because:

  • It's designed for speed, not resistance to attacks
  • It's relatively easy to deliberately create collisions
  • It doesn't provide protection against intentional tampering
  • It lacks cryptographic properties like preimage resistance

For cryptographic applications, use SHA-2, SHA-3, or other cryptographically secure hashes.

MurmurHash and XXHash serve similar purposes but with key differences:

  • Speed: XXHash is generally faster than MurmurHash
  • Quality: Both have good distribution properties
  • Output Size: MurmurHash offers 128-bit variants
  • Implementation: XXHash is optimized for modern CPUs
  • Adoption: MurmurHash is more widely used in data structures

For checksum purposes, both are good choices depending on specific needs.

Pro Tips for Using MurmurHash Checksums

  • For hash tables, use different seeds for different instances to prevent algorithmic complexity attacks
  • When storing checksums, always store the algorithm version and seed used
  • For file verification, consider combining MurmurHash with file size checks
  • On 64-bit systems, prefer Murmur-3C for 128-bit hashes
  • For distributed systems, ensure all nodes use the same MurmurHash version and seed