Hash Verification Model
QR-V™ uses cryptographic hashing to support integrity verification of records, documents, and associated data.
The hash model enables validation that a record has not been altered since issuance, independent of presentation layers.
—
Purpose
The hash verification model ensures that verification is not limited to record existence, but also includes data integrity validation.
- Detects unauthorized modifications
- Provides integrity reference for records
- Supports audit and traceability
- Enables verification independent of UI or file format
Verification compares a computed hash against a registry-stored hash value.
A match confirms that the data has not been altered since it was registered.
—
How Hashing Works
- Original data or document is created
- A cryptographic hash is generated
- The hash is stored in the registry record
- The QR-V identifier references the record
- During verification, the hash is recomputed from the presented data
- The computed hash is compared with the registry hash
If both values match, the data is considered unchanged.
—
Hash Function Characteristics
- Deterministic — same input produces the same output
- Collision-resistant — difficult to produce identical hashes from different inputs
- One-way — original data cannot be derived from the hash
Standard cryptographic hash functions such as SHA-256 may be used depending on implementation requirements.
—
Data Binding Model
Hashes can be generated from different types of data depending on the use case:
- Full document content
- Structured metadata fields
- Serialized record payloads
- File binary data
The chosen method must remain consistent between issuance and verification.
—
Verification Outcomes
Possible Results
- Match — data integrity confirmed
- Mismatch — data altered or inconsistent
- Unavailable — no hash present
Example
{
"status": "verified",
"hash_match": true,
"hash_algorithm": "SHA-256"
}
—
Registry Interaction
- Hash values are stored as part of registry records
- Verification queries retrieve stored hash values
- Hash comparison occurs within the verification workflow
- Registry data remains the authoritative reference
—
Limitations
- Hash validation confirms integrity, not authorship
- Matching hashes do not guarantee legal validity
- Incorrect input data will produce different hashes
- Hashing does not replace issuer identity verification
—
Security Considerations
- Use secure hash algorithms
- Protect hash generation workflows
- Avoid exposing sensitive raw data
- Maintain audit logs for hash-related operations
—
Implement Integrity Verification
Use hash validation alongside registry-based verification to strengthen trust and auditability.
—