Hash Generator
Hash Values
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Hash Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Output Size | Security | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD5 | 128 bits (32 hex chars) | Weak - Broken | Checksums, non-security uses |
| SHA-1 | 160 bits (40 hex chars) | Weak - Deprecated | Legacy systems (avoid for new) |
| SHA-256 | 256 bits (64 hex chars) | Strong | General purpose, certificates |
| SHA-512 | 512 bits (128 hex chars) | Strong | High-security applications |
About Cryptographic Hashes
What is a Hash?
A cryptographic hash function converts any input data into a fixed-size string of characters. The same input always produces the same hash, but it's computationally infeasible to reverse.
Common Uses
- Password storage (with salt)
- File integrity verification
- Digital signatures
- Blockchain/cryptocurrency
Security Warning
MD5 and SHA-1 are considered cryptographically broken. Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for security-sensitive applications. For passwords, use bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 instead.
Hash Properties
- Deterministic: Same input = same output
- One-way: Cannot reverse to get input
- Collision-resistant: Hard to find two inputs with same hash
- Avalanche effect: Small change = completely different hash
How to Use This Tool
- Enter Your Input Text: Paste or type the string you want to hash into the text area. The tool accepts any UTF-8 text including special characters, newlines, and unicode. Whitespace is significant—trailing spaces will produce different hashes.
- Generate All Hash Values: Click "Generate Hashes" to compute MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 simultaneously. Each algorithm produces a fixed-length hexadecimal output regardless of input size.
- Select the Appropriate Algorithm: Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for security-sensitive applications. MD5 is acceptable only for checksums and non-cryptographic purposes. SHA-1 is deprecated for security use cases.
- Copy the Result: Click the copy button next to any hash value to copy it to your clipboard. The copied value is lowercase hexadecimal, which is the standard format for hash comparison.
Technical Details
Cryptographic hash functions are one-way algorithms that map arbitrary-length input to fixed-length output. MD5 produces a 128-bit (32 hex character) digest but is cryptographically broken—practical collision attacks exist. SHA-1 generates a 160-bit (40 hex character) hash and is similarly deprecated after demonstrated vulnerabilities.
SHA-256 and SHA-512 are members of the SHA-2 family, producing 256-bit and 512-bit digests respectively. These remain cryptographically secure for integrity verification, digital signatures, and content addressing. The avalanche effect ensures that changing a single bit in the input produces a completely different hash with approximately 50% of bits flipped. For password storage, use purpose-built algorithms like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 that incorporate salting and computational cost factors rather than raw SHA hashes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using MD5/SHA-1 for Security: These algorithms have known collision vulnerabilities. An attacker can craft two different inputs producing identical hashes. Never use them for password storage, digital signatures, or certificate validation.
- Hashing Passwords Without Salt: Raw hashes are vulnerable to rainbow table attacks. If you're storing passwords, use bcrypt or Argon2—not SHA-256 directly. This tool is for integrity checks, not password storage.
- Ignoring Encoding Differences: The same text in different encodings (UTF-8 vs. ISO-8859-1) produces different hashes. Ensure consistent encoding across systems when comparing hashes. This tool uses UTF-8 encoding.
Related Tools
Need globally unique identifiers instead of content-based hashes? The UUID Generator creates random or time-based unique IDs. For encoding data rather than hashing it, try the Base64 Encoder.