# BLAKE3

> reference implementation of the BLAKE3 algorithm

**Wikidata**: [Q111191355](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111191355)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/blake3-q111191355

## Summary
BLAKE3 is the reference implementation of the BLAKE3 cryptographic hash function, designed to be faster and more secure than predecessors like MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-2. It is free, open-source, and supports multiple operating systems, including Linux, Windows, macOS, and BSD. Released in 2019, it provides a secure alternative to outdated hashing algorithms.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: January 9, 2019.
- **Developer**: Jack O’Connor.
- **Licenses**: Dual-licensed under Creative Commons CC0 and Apache License 2.0.
- **Supported Platforms**: Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS, and BSD.
- **Latest Version**: 0.3.8 (released May 25, 2021).
- **Repository**: Hosted on GitHub at [https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3).
- **Implementations**: Includes a command-line tool (`b3sum`) and software library (`libblake3`).
- **Security**: Designed to resist length-extension attacks, unlike SHA-2.

## FAQs
### Q: What is BLAKE3 used for?
A: BLAKE3 is used for generating cryptographic hashes to ensure data integrity and authenticity, commonly applied in security protocols, file verification, and data storage systems.

### Q: Why is BLAKE3 considered faster than SHA-2 or BLAKE2?
A: BLAKE3 achieves higher speeds through algorithmic optimizations, such as parallelization and efficient design, making it suitable for modern hardware.

### Q: Is BLAKE3 secure against known vulnerabilities?
A: Yes, BLAKE3 is designed to avoid weaknesses found in older algorithms (e.g., MD5, SHA-1) and resists length-extension attacks, enhancing its security for cryptographic use cases.

## Why It Matters
BLAKE3 addresses critical shortcomings in legacy cryptographic hash functions. Its speed and security make it ideal for applications requiring efficient data verification, from software distribution to blockchain systems. By offering open-source implementations in Rust and C, BLAKE3 promotes transparency and accessibility, fostering adoption across diverse platforms. Its resistance to length-extension attacks mitigates risks present in SHA-2, positioning it as a modern, reliable tool for cryptographic workflows.

## Notable For
- **Speed**: Outperforms MD5, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3, and BLAKE2 in benchmark tests.
- **Security**: Explicitly designed to prevent length-extension attacks.
- **Cross-Platform Support**: Available on major operating systems via packages (e.g., `b3sum` on Linux, Homebrew on macOS).
- **Open-Source Licensing**: Permissive licenses (CC0 and Apache 2.0) encourage integration into commercial and non-commercial projects.

## Body
### Development
- **Initial Release**: January 9, 2019.
- **Lead Developer**: Jack O’Connor, with contributions from the BLAKE3-team on GitHub.
- **Implementation Languages**: Primary implementations in Rust and C.

### Technical Specifications
- **Hash Output**: Produces variable-length digests (e.g., 32, 64, or 128 bytes).
- **Design Principles**: Emphasizes speed, security, and simplicity, as detailed in the [BLAKE3 paper](https://blake3.com/).

### Releases
- **Version History**:
  - 0.3.8 (May 25, 2021): Latest stable release.
  - 0.3.0 (April 2, 2020): Introduced key performance optimizations.
  - Initial 0.2.0 release (January 2019): Established core functionality.

### Licensing
- **Dual Licensing**: Code is available under CC0 (public domain dedication) or Apache License 2.0, ensuring compatibility with diverse project requirements.

### Availability
- **Package Managers**: Distributed via `b3sum` and `libblake3` in repositories for Arch Linux, Debian, Fedora, FreeBSD, and Homebrew.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Software",
  "name": "BLAKE3",
  "description": "Reference implementation of the BLAKE3 cryptographic hash function",
  "url": "https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3",
  "version": "0.3.8",
  "operatingSystem": ["Linux", "Microsoft Windows", "macOS", "BSD"],
  "programmingLanguage": ["Rust", "C"],
  "license": ["Creative Commons CC0 License", "Apache Software License 2.0"],
  "author": "Jack O'Connor",
  "datePublished": "2019-01-09",
  "sameAs": ["https://blake3.com/"]
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3)
2. [Release 0.3.8. 2021](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.8)
3. [Release 0.3.7. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.7)
4. [Release 0.3.6. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.6)
5. [Release 0.3.5. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.5)
6. [Release 0.3.4. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.4)
7. [Release 0.3.3. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.3)
8. [Release 0.3.2. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.2)
9. [Release 0.3.1. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.1)
10. [Release 0.2.3. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.2.3)
11. [Release 0.2.2. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.2.2)
12. [Release 0.3.0. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.3.0)
13. [Release 0.2.1. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.2.1)
14. [Release 0.2.0. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.2.0)
15. [Release 0.1.5. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.1.5)
16. [Release 0.1.4. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.1.4)
17. [Release 0.1.3. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.1.3)
18. [Release 0.1.2. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.1.2)
19. [Release 0.1.1. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.1.1)
20. [Release 0.1.0. 2020](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/0.1.0)
21. [Release 1.0.0. 2021](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.0.0)
22. [Release 1.1.0. 2021](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.1.0)
23. [Release 1.2.0. 2021](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.2.0)
24. [Release 1.3.0. 2022](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.3.0)
25. [Release 1.3.1. 2022](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.3.1)
26. [Release 1.3.2. 2022](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.3.2)
27. [Release 1.3.3. 2022](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.3.3)
28. [Release 1.4.0. 2023](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.4.0)
29. [Release 1.4.1. 2023](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.4.1)
30. [Release 1.5.0. 2023](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.5.0)
31. [Release 1.5.1. 2024](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.5.1)
32. [Release 1.5.2. 2024](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.5.2)
33. [Release 1.5.3. 2024](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.5.3)
34. [Release 1.5.4. 2024](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.5.4)
35. [Release 1.5.5. 2024](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.5.5)
36. [Release 1.6.0. 2025](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.6.0)
37. [1.6.1. 2025](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.6.1)
38. [1.7.0. 2025](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.7.0)
39. [Release 1.8.0. 2025](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.8.0)
40. [Release 1.8.1. 2025](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.8.1)
41. [Release 1.8.2. 2025](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.8.2)
42. [Release 1.8.3. 2026](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.8.3)
43. [Release 1.8.4. 2026](https://github.com/BLAKE3-team/BLAKE3/releases/tag/1.8.4)