Generate K12 (KangarooTwelve) hashes - fast reduced-round Keccak with tree structure per IRTF draft.
About
K12 (KangarooTwelve) is a fast hash function using reduced-round Keccak-f with 12 rounds and a tree structure, defined in draft-irtf-cfrg-kangarootwelve, providing high-speed hashing for efficient parallel processing.
Specifications
Output SizeVariable
StandardKangarooTwelve Internet-Draft
Standard Year2021
Origin KangarooTwelve proposal
Origin Year 2016
Use Cases
—High-speed cryptographic hashing
—Tree-based parallel hashing
—Large file fast integrity checks
—High-throughput data processing
—Modern fast cryptographic applications
Frequently Asked Questions
K12 is a fast hash function using reduced-round Keccak (12 rounds instead of 24) with a tree structure. It's defined in the IRTF KangarooTwelve draft. It's about 2x faster than SHA3-256 while maintaining strong security.
Use K12 when you need high performance and can accept a newer, less standardized algorithm. It's ideal for high-throughput applications, large file hashing, and content-addressed storage. Use SHA3-256 for maximum standards compliance and compatibility.
The 12-round version maintains strong security margins. The full 24 rounds in SHA-3 provide extra conservative security; 12 rounds are sufficient for practical security. K12 has been extensively analyzed and is considered secure for its intended use cases.