Free Tool
Hash Generator
Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 hashes from text or files instantly. All processing happens in your browser — nothing is sent to any server.
Start typing to see hashes update in real time
What Are Hash Functions?
A cryptographic hash function takes input data of any size and produces a fixed-size output (the "hash" or "digest"). The same input always produces the same hash, but even a tiny change in the input produces a completely different hash. Hash functions are one-way — you cannot reverse a hash to recover the original data.
Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Output | Security | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD5 | 128-bit | Broken | Checksums, non-security |
| SHA-1 | 160-bit | Deprecated | Legacy systems |
| SHA-256 | 256-bit | Strong | Digital signatures, TLS, Bitcoin |
| SHA-384 | 384-bit | Strong | TLS, government systems |
| SHA-512 | 512-bit | Strong | High-security applications |
Common Use Cases
- • File Integrity — Verify downloads haven't been tampered with by comparing hash checksums
- • Password Storage — Storing hashed passwords instead of plain text (use bcrypt/scrypt for production)
- • Data Deduplication — Identify duplicate files by comparing their hashes
- • Digital Signatures — Hash documents before signing for efficient verification
- • Blockchain — SHA-256 is the backbone of Bitcoin and many other blockchains
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