MD5 algorithm

MD5 is a type of algorithm that is known as a cryptographic

hash algorithm. MD5 produces a hash value in a hexadecimal
format. This competes with other designs where hash functions
take in a certain piece of data, and change it to provide a key or
value that can be used in place of the original value.

Techopedia explains MD5

With the development of various hash algorithms, experts have
noted that engineers found MD5 to have serious weaknesses in terms of
not being "collision resistant." A collision happens when two hash values
are found to be similar or the same. To work correctly, each individual
hash value has to be unique. Because this functionality is needed for
popular authentication protocols like Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), MD5
has often been replaced with other types of hash algorithms.
Security engineers and others are familiar with long lists of hash
algorithms with different properties. MD5 and other types of hash
algorithms are often referred to as "message digest" functions.The idea
here is that a hash "digests" an original value and outputs a replacement
value that is significantly different from the original. Hashes have
several main uses in security and database efficiency, related to the use
of replacement values in searches and in data storage.
de a key or value that can be used in place of the original value.