Python 256bit Hash function with number output

Question

I need a Hash function with a 256bit output (as long int).

First I thought I could use SHA256 from the hashlib but it has an String Output and I need a number to calcula

Answer 1

How about:

>>> import hashlib
>>> h = hashlib.sha256('something to hash')
>>> h.hexdigest()
'a3899c4070fc75880fa445b6dfa44207cbaf924a450ce7175cd8500e597d3ec1'
>>> n = int(h.hexdigest(),base=16)
>>> print n
73970130776712578303406724846815845410916448611708558169000368019946742824641