A collision in a hash function occurs when two different inputs or keys produce the same output or hash value. This can result in data being stored at the same location in a hash table, causing potential issues with handling or retrieving data. Collisions are common in hash functions due to the fact that there are typically more possible inputs than unique hash values, especially in cases where the hash function is not designed to distribute values evenly across the hash table. Different collision resolution strategies can be utilized to mitigate the impact of collisions, such as chaining or open addressing.
