Which of the following is NOT a characteristic used to evaluate the success of a hashing algorithm?

In evaluating the success of a hashing algorithm, transparency is not considered a characteristic. Success in hashing algorithms is primarily assessed through attributes that affect security and performance.

Collision resistance refers to the algorithm's ability to prevent two different inputs from producing the same hash output. This is crucial for ensuring the integrity and uniqueness of the data represented by the hash, making it a vital criterion for effectiveness.

Reliability typically relates to the consistency of the algorithm in producing the same output for the same input, which is essential for maintaining trust in the hash function over time.

Speed is also a critical factor, as it gauges how quickly a hashing algorithm can compute the hash value, which impacts overall system performance, especially in scenarios involving large datasets or high transaction rates.

While transparency might pertain to how the algorithm's operations can be observed or understood, it is not integral to its functional success the way the other characteristics are. Hence, this makes it the correct answer for what does not characterize the evaluation of a hashing algorithm.