What is the purpose of a hash code in Python?

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What is the purpose of a hash code in Python?

The purpose of a hash code in Python is to provide a unique identifier for an object. It is a numeric value that is generated by a hash function, which takes the object's data as input and produces a fixed-size output. The hash code is used in various operations, such as storing and retrieving objects in hash-based data structures like dictionaries and sets. It allows for efficient lookup and comparison of objects, as the hash code can be used to quickly determine if two objects are likely to be equal or not. Additionally, hash codes are used in hashing algorithms for data integrity and security purposes.