Universal hashing

Universal hashing is like a magic trick that makes sure that our valuable things are safe from bad guys who try to steal them. Imagine you have a special box where you keep your favorite toy or a sweet treat, and you don't want anyone else to open it. You put a lock on the box to keep it safe. But, what if someone else has the same kind of lock and key as yours? They could easily open your box and take your treasured thing.

This is where universal hashing comes in. It's like a special lock and key that no one else has. When you put your valuable thing in the box and lock it with this special lock and key, only you will be able to open it. No one else can open it because they don't have the same kind of lock and key.

Similarly, in computer science, we use universal hashing to protect information from being stolen or tampered with. It's a way of creating a special code or key that only the right person can use to access the information. Universal hashing uses a special math formula to create this code that is unique to each person, just like the special lock and key in our toy box.

So, when you hear the term "universal hashing," think of a magic lock and key that keeps our secrets safe from bad guys who try to steal them.