What type of key must be specified to benefit from the hash algorithm in a hashed internal table?

In order to utilize the hash algorithm in a hashed internal table, it is essential to specify a fully qualified key. A fully qualified key means that the key is defined in such a way that it uniquely identifies each entry in the internal table without ambiguity. This is crucial because the hashing process relies on a clear and unambiguous key to effectively distribute entries across the hash table, which enhances the performance of data retrieval operations.

When a fully qualified key is defined, it enables the hashing algorithm to compute a unique hash value for each record efficiently, thus allowing for fast access and quicker searches. The advantages of using a hashed table with this type of key include not only rapid access but also minimal collisions in the hash table, leading to optimized performance in data manipulation tasks.

Specifications such as being left aligned and gap-free, under-qualified, or simply permitting any key do not meet the stringent requirements for hash-related operations in internal tables, which could lead to inefficiencies or inaccuracies in data handling.