Hash Generator
Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 cryptographic hashes for any text
Introduction
Cryptographic hash functions are fundamental building blocks of modern computing security. This Hash Generator provides instant access to MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hashing algorithms, allowing you to generate cryptographic hashes directly in your browser without sending data to any server.
Who Should Use This Tool?
- Developers building secure applications
- Systems administrators verifying file integrity
- Security professionals conducting forensic analysis
- Web developers creating cache keys
- Students learning about cryptography
How This Tool Works
The Hash Generator uses the Web Crypto API to convert text into byte arrays and process them through cryptographic algorithms. MD5 produces 128-bit hashes, SHA-1 produces 160-bit, SHA-256 produces 256-bit, and SHA-512 produces 512-bit hashes. All processing happens locally in your browser with no server communication.
Try Hash Generator Now
Use the interactive tool below to get instant results
About Hash Functions
Hashes are one-way functions that convert text into a fixed-length string. You cannot reverse a hash to get the original text.
- MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken - use only for non-security purposes
- SHA-256 and SHA-512 are currently secure for cryptographic use
- Same input always produces the same hash (deterministic)
Enter text above to generate hashes
Select your preferred hash algorithms and start typing
Quick Reference
Hash Algorithms:
MD5 (128-bit)
Fast but cryptographically broken. Use only for checksums, not security.
SHA-1 (160-bit)
Deprecated for security. Vulnerable to collision attacks.
SHA-256 (256-bit)
Secure and widely used. Recommended for most applications.
SHA-512 (512-bit)
Most secure option. Longer hash provides higher security.
Common Use Cases:
- Password Storage: Hash passwords before storing (use bcrypt/argon2 in production)
- File Integrity: Verify files haven't been modified
- Data Deduplication: Identify duplicate content
- Digital Signatures: Verify authenticity of messages
- Blockchain: Link blocks in blockchain technology
How to Use Hash Generator
Type Your Text
Enter whatever text you want to hash. Could be a password, a file name, some data—any length works. The tool hashes it as you type. Hit Load Sample if you want to test it first and see how different algorithms give different outputs.
Pick Your Algorithms
Check MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, or SHA-512—you can pick all of them at once to compare. MD5 and SHA-1 are marked deprecated for security reasons but work fine for checksums. SHA-256 is the go-to for most security stuff. SHA-512 is stronger but slower.
See the Hashes
Hashes generate automatically as you type. Each one shows the algorithm name, bit length (128-bit for MD5, 160-bit for SHA-1, 256-bit for SHA-256, 512-bit for SHA-512), and character count. Deprecated algorithms get a security warning.
Copy What You Need
Hit Copy next to any hash to grab it for your code, config file, database, or wherever you need it. Works for all hash types.
Use Cases for Hash Generator
Checking File Integrity
Download a file and want to verify it was not corrupted or tampered with? Generate a hash of the file contents and compare it to the published checksum. If they match, the file is good. If not, something changed.
Finding Duplicates
Got thousands of files or database records and need to find duplicates? Hash the content. Identical content always produces identical hashes. Way faster than comparing full content byte-by-byte.
Signing API Requests
Need to sign API requests to prove they have not been tampered with? Hash the request parameters or payload and include the hash as a signature. The receiving server rehashes and compares to verify authenticity.
Creating Cache Keys
Building a caching system? Hash the URL and query parameters to create a unique cache key. Keeps keys short and consistent no matter how long the original URL is.
Comparing Data
Need to check if two big files or datasets are identical without transferring or comparing all the bytes? Just compare their hashes. Same hash means same content. Different hash means something changed.
Key Features
Instant Hashing
Generates hashes as you type
Four Algorithms
MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512
Run Multiple at Once
Select multiple algorithms to compare outputs
One-Click Copy
Copy button for each hash
Hash Length Info
Shows character count and bit length for each hash
Color Coding
Different colors for each algorithm
Security Warnings
Flags deprecated algorithms (MD5, SHA-1) with warnings
Input Stats
Shows byte count and character count for your input
Sample Text
Load sample button to test the tool
Clean UI
Easy to use with accessible inputs
Web Crypto API
Uses browser native crypto APIs
No Uploads
Everything happens in your browser
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cryptographic hash function?
A one-way math function that converts any input into a fixed-length string. Same input always gives the same output (deterministic), but you cannot reverse the hash to get the original input back. Used for checking data integrity, storing passwords safely, digital signatures, and lots of security stuff.
Why are MD5 and SHA-1 considered deprecated?
Researchers found ways to create collision attacks—finding two different inputs that produce the same hash. This breaks their security for things like digital signatures and SSL certificates. They are still okay for non-security stuff like checksums or detecting accidental file corruption, but never use them for passwords, signatures, or anything security-critical. Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 instead.
Can I reverse a hash to get the original text?
Nope. Hash functions are one-way by design and cannot be reversed mathematically. However, you could try brute-forcing by hashing tons of inputs until you find a match, or look it up in a precomputed rainbow table. This is why passwords need to be hashed with salt and specialized algorithms like bcrypt or Argon2, not just plain hashing.
Which algorithm should I use?
For security stuff, use SHA-256. Good security, decent speed, widely supported. SHA-512 is stronger with longer hashes but slower—use it for highly sensitive data. MD5 and SHA-1 are fine for checksums or file integrity where you just need to detect accidental corruption, but never for passwords, signatures, or anything security-related.
Is this tool safe for sensitive data?
Yep. All hashing happens in your browser using native Web Crypto APIs. Nothing gets sent to any server. But remember: hashing is one-way. Once you hash something, you cannot get it back. Think about what you are hashing and why before you do it.