---
sidebar_position: 5
title: Hashing
description: "How TrackForge uses SHA-256 to bind ratings to exact inputs: evidence packet hashes, rating event hashes and versioned methodology artefact hashes."
keywords:
  - hashing
  - SHA-256
  - methodology hash
  - evidence hash
---

# Hashing

TrackForge uses SHA-256 hashes to bind ratings to exact inputs.

Key hashes include:

- Methodology hash.
- Evidence packet hash.
- Leakage vector hash.
- Rating input hash.
- Merkle root.

Any change to canonical JSON, methodology text, taxonomy version, workflow version, scope, or evidence contents should produce a different hash.

Hashing makes drift detectable; it does not by itself prove legal ownership or future royalty collection.