Define a one-way function and its uses
Company: Mercor
Role: Software Engineer
Category: Software Engineering Fundamentals
Difficulty: medium
Interview Round: Technical Screen
What is a **one-way function** (also called a one-direction function) in cryptography?
Define it precisely and explain common uses in real systems (e.g., password storage, integrity, signatures).
Overview: This question evaluates a candidate's ability to precisely define the concept of a one-way function and articulate its properties and cryptographic role.