Which hashing algorithm family includes SHA-256 and SHA-512?

The hashing algorithm family that includes SHA-256 and SHA-512 is known as SHA-2. SHA-2 is a set of cryptographic hash functions designed by the National Security Agency (NSA) and is widely used for secure data integrity verification. It provides a higher level of security compared to its predecessor, SHA-1, which has been found to be vulnerable to collision attacks.

SHA-256 and SHA-512 refer specifically to the 256-bit and 512-bit versions of the algorithms within this family, respectively. These algorithms produce unique output hashes, which are essential for applications such as digital signatures, certificate generation, and data integrity checks. The advancements in SHA-2 provide better protection against potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited in weaker hashing algorithms.

In contrast, other options represent either older or entirely different families of hashing algorithms. For example, SHA-1 is an earlier version that has known vulnerabilities, while SHA-3 is a different family altogether, and MD5 is also considered insecure for many modern applications due to its susceptibility to collision attacks. Thus, SHA-2 is recognized for its robustness and is the correct answer in this context.