Hash Generator
Generate cryptographic hashes from text using MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 algorithms. Fast, secure, and works offline in your browser.
Hash Usage Tips
- MD5 is fast but cryptographically broken - use only for checksums
- SHA-1 is deprecated for security purposes but still used for compatibility
- SHA-256 is recommended for most security applications
- SHA-384 and SHA-512 provide higher security but larger hash sizes
- Hashes are one-way functions - you cannot reverse them to get the original text
- Same input always produces the same hash with the same algorithm
What is a Hash Function?
A hash function is a mathematical algorithm that takes an input (or "message") and returns a fixed-size string of bytes. The output, known as the hash value or hash code, is typically a hexadecimal string that appears random but is deterministic - the same input will always produce the same hash.
Hash functions are one-way functions, meaning it's computationally infeasible to reverse the process and obtain the original input from the hash. This property makes them ideal for password storage, data integrity verification, digital signatures, and blockchain technology.
Hash Algorithms Explained
MD5 (Message Digest 5): Produces a 128-bit (16-byte) hash value. MD5 is fast and widely used for checksums and data integrity verification, but it's cryptographically broken and should not be used for security purposes. MD5 hashes are 32 hexadecimal characters long.
SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm 1): Produces a 160-bit (20-byte) hash value. SHA-1 was widely used but is now considered deprecated for security applications due to vulnerabilities. However, it's still used in some legacy systems. SHA-1 hashes are 40 hexadecimal characters long.
SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256): Part of the SHA-2 family, produces a 256-bit (32-byte) hash value. SHA-256 is currently recommended for most security applications, including password hashing, digital signatures, and blockchain. SHA-256 hashes are 64 hexadecimal characters long.
SHA-384 (Secure Hash Algorithm 384): Produces a 384-bit (48-byte) hash value. Part of the SHA-2 family, SHA-384 provides higher security than SHA-256 but with a larger hash size. SHA-384 hashes are 96 hexadecimal characters long.
SHA-512 (Secure Hash Algorithm 512): Produces a 512-bit (64-byte) hash value. The largest standard SHA-2 variant, SHA-512 provides the highest level of security but also the largest hash size. SHA-512 hashes are 128 hexadecimal characters long.
Common Use Cases
Password Storage: Instead of storing passwords in plain text, systems store their hash values. When a user logs in, the system hashes the entered password and compares it to the stored hash.
Data Integrity: Hash functions can verify that data hasn't been tampered with. By comparing hash values before and after transmission, you can detect any changes.
Digital Signatures: Cryptographic hash functions are used in digital signature algorithms to ensure authenticity and integrity of digital documents.
Blockchain: Hash functions are fundamental to blockchain technology, used to link blocks together and ensure the integrity of the entire chain.
File Verification: Download sites often provide hash values (checksums) so users can verify that downloaded files haven't been corrupted or modified.