Hash Generator
Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 hashes from text instantly and privately.
Supported Algorithms
What Is Cryptographic Hashing?
Cryptographic hash functions take an input of arbitrary length and produce a fixed-length string of characters. The result changes completely with a small change in the input string; this phenomenon is known as the avalanche effect.
MD5 vs SHA-256
- MD5, fast, 128-bit. Good for checksums and file integrity. Not suitable for password storage.
- SHA-256, industry standard, 256-bit. Used in Bitcoin, SSL certificates, and secure systems.
Common Uses
- File integrity verification
- Password hashing (use SHA-256+)
- Digital signatures
- Blockchain & cryptocurrency
- API request signing
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I generate a hash?
You can input or paste any text in the input box and click on "Generate Hashes." All four hash values are displayed immediately. MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hash values are displayed immediately. Alternatively, you can use the "Live" option to hash as you type in real-time. If you want to hash a file, you can use the "File" option and drag the file into the upload zone.
Which hash algorithm should I use?
SHA-256 is the best choice for most security-critical applications; it's the de facto standard in the industry today, used in SSL certificates, Bitcoin, and code signing. MD5 is acceptable for non-security use cases such as detecting changes in files or generating cache keys. MD5 has been broken for any use in a cryptographic context. If you need a more secure hash function for high-security applications, consider using SHA-512.
Can I reverse a hash back to the original text?
No, that's the point of a hash function: its output is one-way only. There's no way to reverse a hash into the original input using any known algorithm. The only thing attackers can do is use a "rainbow table" of common password hashes, so password hashing always includes a random "salt" value that's appended before hashing.
Is my text or file sent to your servers?
No way! SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hash calculations are done on the client-side using the browser's built-in Web Crypto API. MD5 hash calculations are done using pure JavaScript code running on the client-side. The code works even when you are offline after the page has loaded.
How do I verify a file download with a hash?
Software developers often publish the expected hash value for a download along with the file. Simply switch to "File" mode, drag in the file you downloaded, and compare the hash value we calculated with the expected hash value published by the software developer. If the two hash values are the same, the file download worked correctly and has not been tampered with in any way. Even a single bit difference in the file's contents will produce a completely different hash value.
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