def hash_key_salt(self):

    # --- convert key to hash
    #  create a new hash object

    hasher = hashlib.new(self.hash_type)
    hasher.update(self.user_key)

    # turn the output key hash into 32 bytes (256 bits)

    self.hashed_key_salt["key"] = bytes(hasher.hexdigest()[:32], "utf-8")

    # clean up hash object

    del hasher

    # --- convert salt to hash
    #  create a new hash object

    hasher = hashlib.new(self.hash_type)
    hasher.update(self.user_salt)

    # turn the output salt hash into 16 bytes (128 bits)

    self.hashed_key_salt["salt"] = bytes(hasher.hexdigest()[:16], "utf-8")

    # clean up hash object

    del hasher