MD5

MD5 Codes: MD5 stands for Message Digest version 5. The MD5 algorithm takes a file (the “message”) of any size, and reduces it down to a code that looks like this: "ac30ce5b07b0018d65203fbc680968f5" (the “digest”). If the message changes, MD5 algorithm will produce a completely different digest. Think of MD5s as fingerprints for files.

The MD5 algorithm has many uses. Foremost is the ability to validate that when a data file is transmitted from point A to point B, it arrives intact, without distortion. This is done by calculating the MD5 string that corresponds to the original file (at point A), calculating the MD5 again using the copy of the file (at point B), and then comparing the two MD5 strings.

Use md5sum command to compute the MD5 checksum of any input file:

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Related links:

http://www.codejacked.com/using-md5sum-to-validate-the-integrity-of-downloaded-files/