I want to use an entire email as the key of a hash database. I figure the best thing is to reduce the email to a fingerprint using something like Digest::MD5. I'm not worried about someone intentionally breaking the digest, so even MD5 might be overkill.

So, I guess my question is: Is there a way to produce super-cheap fingerprints?

Thanks
--Pileofrogs

Update :

swampyankee, cool! Now I'll have to go figure out what that thing is actually doing...

GrandFather, you're right on the money. I don't need absolute uniqueness, or even something remotely close to it. I just need good odds that two _real_ messages won't collide. .. So... wots a CRC checksum..? (Ok, I'll go look it up myself...)

In reply to Simple Digests? by pileofrogs

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