# Skein

> cryptographic hash function

**Wikidata**: [Q1142190](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1142190)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skein_(hash_function))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/skein

## Summary  
Skein is a cryptographic hash function that was introduced in 2008. It was designed by a team of prominent security experts—including Bruce Schneier, Niels Ferguson, Stefan Lucks, Doug Whiting, Mihir Bellare, Tadayoshi Kohno, Jon Callas, and Jesse Walker—to provide a secure, high‑performance hashing algorithm for a variety of applications.

## Key Facts  
- **Inception:** 2008 【source】  
- **Designed by:** Bruce Schneier, Niels Ferguson, Stefan Lucks, Doug Whiting, Mihir Bellare, Tadayoshi Kohno, Jon Callas, and Jesse Walker【source】  
- **Instance of:** Cryptographic hash function【source】  
- **Freebase ID:** /m/04y8ptk (recorded 28 Oct 2013)【source】  
- **Quora topic:** “Skein”【source】  
- **Wikidata description:** “cryptographic hash function”【source】  
- **Wikipedia title:** *Skein (hash function)*, available in German, English, Hebrew, Russian, and Ukrainian【source】  
- **Sitelink count:** 5 Wikipedia language links【source】  
- **Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued):** 194674032【source】

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Skein?  
A: Skein is a cryptographic hash function created in 2008 to generate fixed‑size digests from arbitrary data, offering security properties needed for cryptographic applications.  

### Q: Who designed Skein?  
A: Skein was designed by a group of leading cryptographers and computer scientists: Bruce Schneier, Niels Ferguson, Stefan Lucks, Doug Whiting, Mihir Bellare, Tadayoshi Kohno, Jon Callas, and Jesse Walker.  

### Q: Where can I find more information about Skein?  
A: Detailed information is available on its Wikipedia page (*Skein (hash function)*) and its Quora topic, both linked from the Wikidata entry for Skein.  

### Q: Is Skein still actively used?  
A: The source material does not specify current usage, but as a cryptographic hash function it remains relevant for any system requiring secure hashing.  

### Q: How does Skein differ from other hash functions?  
A: Skein’s distinguishing features include its 2008 design by a notable team of experts and its classification as a dedicated cryptographic hash function, as recorded in multiple knowledge bases.  

## Why It Matters  
Cryptographic hash functions are foundational to modern security, enabling data integrity verification, digital signatures, password storage, and blockchain operations. Skein contributes to this ecosystem by offering a design that emphasizes both security and performance, reflecting the expertise of its distinguished creators. Introduced in 2008, Skein was part of a broader effort to develop robust alternatives to existing hash standards, influencing subsequent research and standards development. Its presence across major knowledge platforms—Wikidata, Wikipedia, Quora, and legacy academic databases—demonstrates its recognized role in the cryptographic community. Understanding Skein helps security professionals evaluate hash algorithm choices, especially when assessing historical designs that have shaped current best practices.  

## Notable For  
- **Collaborative design:** Created by eight leading cryptographers and computer scientists.  
- **2008 introduction:** Entered the cryptographic landscape during a period of intensive hash‑function research.  
- **Cross‑platform documentation:** Listed in Wikidata, Freebase, Quora, and multiple Wikipedia language editions.  
- **Formal classification:** Explicitly identified as an instance of a cryptographic hash function.  
- **Legacy identifiers:** Holds a Freebase ID and a (now discontinued) Microsoft Academic ID, reflecting its academic relevance.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Skein is a cryptographic hash function, a specialized type of hash algorithm designed to meet stringent security criteria such as pre‑image resistance, second‑preimage resistance, and collision resistance.  

### Design Team  
The algorithm was jointly designed by:  
- **Bruce Schneier** – renowned security technologist.  
- **Niels Ferguson** – Dutch cryptographer.  
- **Stefan Lucks** – computer scientist with a Ph.D. from Georg‑August‑Universität Göttingen (1997).  
- **Doug Whiting** – cryptography expert.  
- **Mihir Bellare** – American cryptographer and mathematician.  
- **Tadayoshi Kohno** – cryptographer and computer scientist.  
- **Jon Callas** – American computer security expert.  
- **Jesse Walker** – contributor to the design.  

### Historical Context  
- **Inception year:** 2008, a time when the cryptographic community was evaluating new hash constructions for potential standardization.  
- **Documentation:** Recorded in multiple knowledge bases, including a Freebase entry dated 28 Oct 2013 and a Quora topic.  

### Classification & Identifiers  
- **Instance of:** Cryptographic hash function (Wikidata).  
- **Freebase ID:** /m/04y8ptk.  
- **Quora topic:** “Skein”.  
- **Wikipedia presence:** Article titled *Skein (hash function)*, available in five languages (de, en, he, ru, uk).  
- **Academic reference:** Microsoft Academic ID 194674032 (now discontinued).  

### Relevance in Cryptography  
Skein’s design reflects a focus on both security and efficiency, aiming to provide a reliable alternative to existing hash functions. Its development by a diverse team of experts underscores its credibility and the collaborative nature of cryptographic research.  

### Availability of Information  
Researchers and practitioners can consult the Wikipedia entry, the Quora topic, and the Wikidata record for technical details, historical notes, and references to scholarly discussions.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Skein",
  "description": "Cryptographic hash function introduced in 2008.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q???", 
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skein_(hash_function)"
  ],
  "additionalType": "CryptographicHashFunction"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Quora
3. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)