Which hashing function is known for its use in secure password hashing?

The hashing function known for its use in secure password hashing is SHA-256. It is a member of the SHA-2 family and is designed to be more secure than its predecessors while offering a higher level of resistance against cryptographic attacks. SHA-256 generates a 256-bit hash value, which provides a strong level of security that is essential for safeguarding passwords against brute-force attacks.

In the context of password storage, it's crucial to use hashing algorithms that are resistant to common attacks such as rainbow table and collision attacks. SHA-256's longer hash length and robustness make it a favorable choice in security applications.

Other hashing functions, like MD5 and SHA-1, have been found to have vulnerabilities that make them less suitable for secure password hashing. MD5 is known for its speed but suffers from collision vulnerabilities. SHA-1, while stronger than MD5, has also been compromised and is not recommended for secure applications. RIPEMD-160, though less commonly used and not as widely adopted as SHA-256, also does not provide the same level of security confidence for password hashing as SHA-256 does. Therefore, the reliability and security strength of SHA-256 establish it as the optimal choice for secure password hashing.