Question

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What is the best 32bit hash function for short strings (tag names)?

I need to hash many strings to 32bit (uint).

Can I just use MD5 or SHA1 and take 4 bytes from it? Or are there better alternatives?

There is no need for security or to care if one is cracked and so on.
I just need to hash fast and uniform to 32 bit. MD5 and SHA1 should be uniform.

But are there better (faster) build in alternatives I could use? If not, which of both would you use?

Here someone asked which one is better, but not for alternatives and there was a security matter (I don’t care for security):
How to Use SHA1 or MD5 in C#?(Which One is Better in Performance and Security for Authentication)

Answer 1

If security does not play a role, generating a hash with a cryptographic hash function (such as MD5 or SHA1) and taking 4 bytes from it works. But they are slower than various non-cryptographic hash functions, as these functions are primarily designed for security, not speed.

Have a look at non-cryptographic hash functions such as FNV or Murmur.

• Non-Cryptographic Hash Function Zoo
  • Performance Graphs
• MurMurHash3, an ultra fast hash algorithm for C# / .NET

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