{"id":"ch-md5-masked-to-32-bits","text":"The consistent hash ring's `_hash` function truncates MD5's 128-bit output to 32 bits via `& 0xFFFFFFFF`, matching the `RING_SIZE` of 2^32","truth_value":"IN","source":"entries/2026/05/29/consistent-hashing-consistent_hashing.md","source_url":"","source_hash":"","justifications":[],"dependents":[],"metadata":{"example":"def _hash(key):\n    return int(hashlib.md5(key.encode()).hexdigest(), 16) & 0xFFFFFFFF"},"explanation":{"steps":[{"node":"ch-md5-masked-to-32-bits","truth_value":"IN","reason":"premise"}]}}