Preferences -> Cookies:

The term "hash" in Preferences -> Cookies is misleading; it is actually a compressed, URL-safe base64 encoded string representing the preferences form. This string is not a cryptographic hash but rather a compressed encoding that safely encodes user preference data for use in URLs, as pointed out by @return42 in the SearxNG GitHub discussion.

Rephrased short suggestion for the page:

• Clarify that the "hash" is a compressed, URL-safe base64 encoded string of the preferences form, not a true hash.

Thanks @return42 who informed me