Hashing is a core operation in most online databases, like a library catalogue or an e-commerce website. A hash function generates codes that directly determine the location where data would be stored. So, using these codes, it is easier to find and retrieve the data. However, because traditional hash functions generate codes randomly, sometimes two pieces of data can be hashed with the same value. This causes collisions -- when searching for one item points a user to many pieces of data with the same hash value.

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- March 14, 2023 -- Researchers from MIT and other institutions report that a "hash function" -- a core database search operation -- can be significantly accelerated through the use of machine learning. The hope is that the new technique could accelerate computational systems that scientists use to store and analyze DNA, amino acid sequences, or other biological information. Hashing is used in applications from database indexing to data compression to cryptography. A hash function generates codes that directly determine the location where data would be stored. But because traditional hash functions generate codes randomly, sometimes two pieces of data can be hashed with the same value.