Hash Generator
Generate MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 hashes from any text. Client-side only — your data never leaves your browser.
SHA-1 and SHA-256 use the browser's native Web Crypto API. MD5 computed in pure JS.
What is a hash function?
A cryptographic hash function takes an input of any length and produces a fixed-length output (the hash or digest). The same input always produces the same hash, but even a single character change produces a completely different result. Hashes are one-way — you cannot reverse a hash to recover the original input.
MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 compared
MD5 produces a 128-bit (32 hex character) hash. It was widely used for checksums but is no longer considered secure for cryptographic purposes due to known collision vulnerabilities. Still useful for non-security tasks like verifying file integrity in trusted environments.
SHA-1 produces a 160-bit (40 hex character) hash. Like MD5, it has known weaknesses and should not be used for security-sensitive applications. Git historically used SHA-1 for object identification.
SHA-256 is part of the SHA-2 family and produces a 256-bit (64 hex character) hash. It is currently considered secure and is used in TLS certificates, Bitcoin, and most modern security protocols.
Use cases
- Verify file integrity by comparing hashes before and after a download.
- Generate SHA-256 checksums for software packages or build artifacts.
- Check if two strings are identical without comparing them directly (e.g., passwords).