/ Tools
Close-up of a vintage analog frequency generator with knobs and dials for precise control.

Hash Generator

Generate cryptographic hashes from text using MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512, and other algorithms. Perfect for password hashing, data integrity verification, and security applications.

Key Features

  • Multiple Algorithms – MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512, SHA-3
  • Text & File Hashing – Hash any text input or upload files
  • HMAC Support – Generate keyed-hash message authentication codes
  • Base64 Encoding – Convert hashes to Base64 format
  • Hex Output – Standard hexadecimal hash display
  • Real-Time Generation – Instant hash calculation
  • Copy to Clipboard – One-click hash copying
  • Comparison Tool – Verify hash matches
  • Browser-Based – All processing done locally
  • No Data Storage – Nothing sent to servers

Supported Hash Algorithms

MD5

Output: 128-bit (32 hex chars)
Speed: Very Fast
Security: ⚠️ Not cryptographically secure

Use for: Checksums, non-security applications, legacy systems

Example:
5d41402abc4b2a76b9719d911017c592

SHA-1

Output: 160-bit (40 hex chars)
Speed: Fast
Security: ⚠️ Deprecated (collision attacks exist)

Use for: Git commits, legacy systems (not passwords)

Example:
aaf4c61ddcc5e8a2dabede0f3b482cd9aea9434d

SHA-256

Output: 256-bit (64 hex chars)
Speed: Fast
Security: ✅ Secure

Use for: Passwords, digital signatures, blockchain, certificates

Example:
2c26b46b68ffc68ff99b453c1d30413413422d706...

SHA-512

Output: 512-bit (128 hex chars)
Speed: Moderate
Security: ✅ Very Secure

Use for: High-security applications, password hashing, cryptographic signatures

Example:
cf83e1357eefb8bdf1542850d66d8007d620e405...

SHA-3

Output: 256/512-bit
Speed: Moderate
Security: ✅ Very Secure (latest standard)

Use for: Modern applications requiring highest security, future-proofing

Example:
a7ffc6f8bf1ed76651c14756a061d662f580ff4de...

BLAKE2

Output: 256/512-bit
Speed: Very Fast
Security: ✅ Secure

Use for: High-performance applications, checksums, file integrity

Example:
bddd813c634239723171ef3fee98579b94964e3bb...

Common Use Cases

🔐 Password Security

  • Hash storage – Store password hashes, not plaintext
  • Salt and pepper – Add random data for extra security
  • Recommended – Use bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 for passwords
  • Avoid – MD5 and SHA-1 for password storage

📄 File Integrity

  • Checksums – Verify file downloads aren’t corrupted
  • Tamper detection – Detect unauthorized modifications
  • Version control – Track file changes (Git uses SHA-1)
  • Software distribution – Verify authentic downloads

✍️ Digital Signatures

  • Document signing – Prove authenticity and origin
  • SSL/TLS certificates – Secure website connections
  • Code signing – Verify software publishers
  • Blockchain – Transaction verification

🔗 Data Deduplication

  • Unique identifiers – Hash as database keys
  • Content addressing – Store files by hash
  • Caching – Use hash for cache keys
  • Duplicate detection – Find identical content

Hash Security Guidelines

✅ Best Practices

  • Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for security applications
  • Add salt to password hashes (random per-user data)
  • Use HMAC for message authentication
  • Prefer bcrypt/scrypt for password storage
  • Verify checksums when downloading files
  • Use secure random for salt generation

❌ Avoid These

  • Don’t use MD5 for security (collision attacks)
  • Don’t use SHA-1 for new applications
  • Never hash without salt for passwords
  • Don’t use fast hashes for password storage
  • Avoid custom algorithms – use tested standards
  • Don’t truncate hashes – weakens security

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a cryptographic hash function?

A hash function takes input data of any size and produces a fixed-size output (the hash). Cryptographic hash functions have special properties:

  • Deterministic – Same input always produces same hash
  • One-way – Cannot reverse hash to get original input
  • Collision-resistant – Hard to find two inputs with same hash
  • Avalanche effect – Small input change drastically changes hash

Which hash algorithm should I use?

For password storage: bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 (designed to be slow)
For file integrity: SHA-256 or BLAKE2
For digital signatures: SHA-256 or SHA-512
For checksums (non-security): MD5 or CRC32
For modern applications: SHA-3 or BLAKE2

Can hashes be reversed?

No, cryptographic hashes cannot be reversed mathematically. However:

  • Rainbow tables – Pre-computed hash databases for common passwords
  • Brute force – Try all possible inputs until hash matches
  • Dictionary attacks – Try common words and variations

This is why salting passwords is critical – makes rainbow tables ineffective.

What is salting and why is it important?

Salting adds random data to input before hashing. For passwords:

Without salt: hash("password123") = same hash for all users
  With salt: hash("password123" + "random_salt_per_user") = unique hash per user

Benefits:

  • Defeats rainbow table attacks
  • Same password = different hash for each user
  • Forces attackers to crack each hash individually

Is it safe to use online hash generators?

Yes for non-sensitive data. Our tool runs entirely in your browser – no data is sent to servers.

For sensitive data: Use local tools or libraries in your development environment. Never hash passwords or private keys in untrusted online tools.

Related Security Tools

🔐 Password Generator

Generate cryptographically secure passwords with customizable length and character sets.

Generate Password →

🔒 Password Strength Checker

Test password strength with entropy calculation and crack time estimation.

Check Strength →

🛠️ All Developer Tools

Explore our complete suite of free developer and security tools.

View All Tools →

Need Help Securing Your Organization?

Our cybersecurity experts can help implement cryptographic solutions, secure data storage, and comprehensive security architecture for your business.

Contact Our Security Team