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Andrei Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

MD5

0 What is MD 5? 02br
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00Message Digest 5 is a standard algorithm that takes as input a message of arbitrary length and produces as output a 128-bit fingerprint or message digest of the input. Any modifications made to the message in transit can then be detected by recalculating the digest. Similar in concept to a CRC, the MD5 algorithm is used as part of the SNMPv3 security subsystem 02br
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00The first sentence of the above is flawed. What do you think? 02br
00All those who are working in the domain of netwoking are familiar with the the MD5. 02br
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00It should be 'MD5 is a standard algrithm that takes a message of arbitrary length and produces an output of 128-bit fingerprint or message digest of the input'. 02br
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00For my knowledge of English, the first sentence of the above has warped the meaning. It is nonsense to say 'that takes as input a message of ...... 02br
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00You could say 'that takes a message of ...... 02br
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00You could also say ' that takes a message of arbitrary length as an iput and produces ..... 0-
  

Top answer

0 01blockquote 00Message Digest 5 is a standard algorithm that takes as input a message of arbitrary length and produces as output a 128-bit fingerprint or message digest of the input. 12blockquote 12br 02br 00This sentence seems fine to me. 02br 00If you speak of output in the second part of the sentence, it 'balances' it well to speak of input in the first part.

— Clive

  • 0 01blockquote 00Message Digest 5 is a standard algorithm that takes as input a message of arbitrary length and produces as output a 128-bit fingerprint or message digest of the input.
  • 12blockquote 12br 02br 00This sentence seems fine to me.
  • 02br 00If you speak of output in the second part of the sentence, it 'balances' it well to speak of input in the first part.
  • Alternatively, you could remove the references to both input and output.
  • However, when computer people speak of algorithms, they very often speak specifically of the input and output, for clarity.
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3 Answers
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0 01blockquote
00Message Digest 5 is a standard algorithm that takes as input a message of arbitrary length and produces as output a 128-bit fingerprint or message digest of the input. 12blockquote
12br
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00This sentence seems fine to me. 02br
00If you speak of output in the second part of the sentence, it 'balances' it well
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0 Thanks Clive 02br
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00Are you a native English speaker? 02br
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00I am not a native English speaker. 0-
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0 Hi Andrei, 02br
00Yes, I am. I wouldn't say computer people always speak like native speakers (that's a little joke). Many specialized groups tend to have their own favoured vocabulary and ways of saying things. 02br
00Clive 0-
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