MD5

MD5 is a data integrity validation mechanism, just like SFV and is used in similar ways.

MD5 data is most commonly distributed as separate .md5 files alongside the main file download files and can be used to check whether the download was complete and whether the data remained uncorrupted during the download process.

MD5 data is created by a algorithm that examines the original file and creates a short(-ish) checksum data string out of the original file's characteristics. When the file and the .md5 file are downloaded, the .md5 file can be used with a specific MD5 file checker application to check whether the downloaded file is identical to the original file. If not, it typically means that the download is not complete or that the downloaded file was corrupted during the data transfer.