Hash Generator
MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 — all at once.
Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 hashes of any text simultaneously, right in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded or sent anywhere.
What a hash is
A hash function turns any input into a fixed-length "fingerprint". The same input always gives the same hash, but even a tiny change gives a completely different result:
- SHA-256 of
hello:2cf24dba5fb0a30e26e83b2ac5b9e29e1b161e5c1fa7425e73043362938b9824 - SHA-256 of
Hello:185f8db32271fe25f561a6fc938b2e264306ec304eda518007d1764826381969
Hashes are one-way: you can't turn a hash back into the original text.
Hash algorithms compared
| Algorithm | Output length | Safe for security? |
|---|---|---|
| MD5 | 128 bits (32 hex characters) | No — broken; use only for basic checksums |
| SHA-1 | 160 bits (40 hex characters) | No — collisions have been demonstrated |
| SHA-256 | 256 bits (64 hex characters) | Yes — the common default |
| SHA-384 | 384 bits (96 hex characters) | Yes |
| SHA-512 | 512 bits (128 hex characters) | Yes |
Common uses
- Checking downloads: software sites publish the SHA-256 of their files so you can confirm a download wasn't corrupted or tampered with.
- Spotting changes: if the hash of a document changes, so did its content.
- Data integrity: Git, backup tools and databases use hashes to detect duplicate or changed data.
- Digital signatures and certificates rely on secure hashes like SHA-256.
Don't use these to store passwords
Plain hashes like SHA-256 are designed to be fast, which lets attackers test billions of password guesses a second. Websites should store passwords with slow, purpose-built algorithms such as bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2.
Frequently asked questions
Which hash should I use?
For anything security-related (passwords, signatures), use SHA-256 or stronger — MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken and shouldn't be trusted for security. MD5 is still fine for simple checksums like verifying a file wasn't corrupted.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No — hashing runs entirely in your browser (using the Web Crypto API for SHA hashes, and a local implementation for MD5).
Is hashing the same as encryption?
No. Encryption can be reversed with the right key; a hash can't be reversed at all. Hashes prove data is unchanged, while encryption keeps data private.