For what reasons are keys usually stored as hash values?

Storing keys as hash values is usually chosen for the following reasons:

• Security: Hash values make it difficult to recover the original keys, which is important for data protection.
• Comparison: Comparing hashes is faster and easier than comparing long or complex keys.
• Fixed length: Hash values have a fixed length, simplifying storage and indexing.
• Uniqueness: Good hash functions minimize collisions, ensuring efficient data access.

For example, when storing passwords in a database, their hash is usually stored instead of the password itself.