karthik nayak <karthik.188@xxxxxxxxx> writes: > 2. Generally in hashing algorithms the XOR is used to ensure that the > output distribution is uniform which reduces collisions. Here, as you > noted, we're more finding values for sorting rather than hashing in the > traditional sense. So why use an XOR? I am not Jonathan, but since the mixing-of-bits is done with XOR in the original that Linus and I wrote, I think the question applies to our version as well. We prefer not to lose entropy from input bytes, so we do not want to use OR or AND, which tend to paint everything with 1 or 0 as you mix in bits from more bytes. Anyway the question sounds like "generally when you take tests you write with a pencil, but right now you are merely taking notes and not taking any tests. why are you writing with a pencil?" There are multiple occasions that a pencil is a great fit as writing equipment.
