SHA-1, or Secure Hash Algorithm 1, is a cryptographic hash function that produces a 160-bit hash value from input data. It's widely used for ensuring data integrity and authenticity by generating a unique fixed-size string for variable-size data. In the realm of digital preservation, SHA-1 plays a critical role in bit-level preservation and fixity checking, helping to confirm that digital files have not been altered or corrupted over time.
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