What does hashing provide in terms of data security?

Hashing provides integrity through one-way transformation. This means that when data, such as a file or a password, is hashed, it is transformed into a fixed-size string of characters, which is typically a hash code. This transformation is designed to be irreversible, meaning that it's practically impossible to obtain the original data from the hash value.

The primary function of hashing in data security is to ensure that any change to the original data will result in a significantly different hash value. Thus, if someone alters the data, the hash will no longer match the original hash, indicating a compromise in integrity. This property of hashing is widely used in various security applications, such as verifying the integrity of files during transmission or storing passwords securely.

The other options present concepts that do not align with the function of hashing. For instance, confidentiality involves keeping data secret, which is the role of encryption rather than hashing. Hashing does not use keys and cannot provide encryption or unrestricted access to plaintext data. Its focus remains on ensuring that the data has not been altered.