The Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) is a cryptographic hash function developed by the US National Security Agency. SHA-512 is the latest version that produces a 512-bit hash value. It processes message blocks of 1024 bits using an 80-step compression function that updates a 512-bit buffer. Each step uses a 64-bit value derived from the message and a round constant. SHA-512 supports messages up to 2^128 bits in length and adds between 1 and 1023 padding bits as needed.