# BLAKE2s

> cryptographic hash function

**Wikidata**: [Q111508995](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111508995)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/blake2s

## Summary
BLAKE2s is a cryptographic hash function. It is part of the BLAKE2 family of cryptographic hash functions and is described in RFC 7693, which specifies BLAKE2 as a cryptographic hash and message authentication code (MAC).

## Key Facts
- BLAKE2s is a **cryptographic hash function**.
- BLAKE2s is **part of BLAKE2** (it has a “part_of” relationship to the BLAKE2 class).
- BLAKE2s is a **subclass of cryptographic hash function**, meaning it belongs to the category of hash functions suitable for cryptographic use.
- BLAKE2 (the family BLAKE2s belongs to) has an **inception date of 2012-12-21**, with a reference to a cryptography mailing list post: https://lists.randombit.net/pipermail/cryptography/2012-December/003562.html
- BLAKE2 is described as a **cryptographic hash function** (class).
- BLAKE2s is **described by**: *RFC 7693: The BLAKE2 Cryptographic Hash and Message Authentication Code (MAC)*.
- BLAKE2s has a **Wikidata description**: “cryptographic hash function.”
- BLAKE2s has a **sitelink_count of 1** in the provided structured data context.

## FAQs
### Q: What is BLAKE2s?
A: BLAKE2s is a cryptographic hash function. It is part of the BLAKE2 family and is specified in RFC 7693, which covers BLAKE2 as a cryptographic hash and message authentication code (MAC).

### Q: Is BLAKE2s part of BLAKE2?
A: Yes. The provided structured properties explicitly list BLAKE2s as “part_of: BLAKE2,” indicating it belongs to the BLAKE2 family of cryptographic hash functions.

### Q: What standard or document describes BLAKE2s?
A: BLAKE2s is described by RFC 7693, titled *The BLAKE2 Cryptographic Hash and Message Authentication Code (MAC)*. This RFC is the cited source describing BLAKE2 for hashing and MAC use.

### Q: What type of algorithm is BLAKE2s classified as?
A: BLAKE2s is classified as a cryptographic hash function. In the provided data, it is also listed as a subclass of “cryptographic hash function,” reinforcing that classification.

## Why It Matters
BLAKE2s matters because it is a cryptographic hash function within the BLAKE2 family, a category of hash functions designed for cryptographic use. Cryptographic hash functions are a special class of hash functions with properties that make them suitable for security-related applications. The fact that BLAKE2s is described by RFC 7693 is significant because RFCs serve as formal, citable specifications that enable consistent implementation and interoperability across systems and software. Additionally, RFC 7693 frames BLAKE2 not only as a hash function but also in the context of message authentication code (MAC) usage, highlighting its relevance to integrity and authentication scenarios. For practitioners, researchers, and implementers, BLAKE2s being explicitly tied to the BLAKE2 family and to an RFC provides a clear reference point for understanding what it is, how it is categorized, and where to find its normative description.

## Notable For
- Being **part of the BLAKE2** family of cryptographic hash functions.
- Being formally **described in RFC 7693**, a dedicated specification for BLAKE2 as a cryptographic hash and MAC.
- Being explicitly classified as a **cryptographic hash function** (including as a subclass of that class).
- Being associated (via its parent family) with BLAKE2’s **inception date of 2012-12-21** (as provided for the BLAKE2 class).

## Body
### Classification
- **Entity type:** cryptographic hash function
- **Subclass of:** cryptographic hash function (a special class of hash function suitable for cryptography)

### Relationship to BLAKE2
- **Part of:** BLAKE2
- **Parent class:** BLAKE2 (itself a cryptographic hash function)

### Specification and Sources
- **Described by source:** RFC 7693 — *The BLAKE2 Cryptographic Hash and Message Authentication Code (MAC)*
- **Wikidata description:** “cryptographic hash function”

### Context on the BLAKE2 Family (Parent)
- **BLAKE2 inception (family-level):** 2012-12-21  
  - Reference: https://lists.randombit.net/pipermail/cryptography/2012-December/003562.html

### Knowledge Graph / Metadata Notes
- **Sitelink_count (BLAKE2s):** 1 (as provided in the structured properties context)
- **Wikipedia languages (context provided):** “functions”