Hash Generator
Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hashes instantly. Verify checksums, compare hashes, and learn about hash security. Fast, secure, and works entirely in your browser.
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All hashing happens in your browser. Your data is never sent to any server.
Embed This Tool
Add this tool to your website with customizable styling
How to Use
- 1
Enter your text
Type or paste any text in the input area. The tool will automatically generate all four hash types (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512) as you type.
- 2
View generated hashes
See all four hashes displayed in cards below. Each card shows the algorithm name, hash value, typical use cases, and security level. Green indicates secure algorithms (SHA-256, SHA-512), while red/yellow indicate deprecated or insecure algorithms (MD5, SHA-1).
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Copy individual hashes
Click the copy icon on any hash card to copy that specific hash to your clipboard. Perfect when you need just one hash type for your application.
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Compare or verify hashes
Click "Compare Hash" to reveal the verification feature. Paste a hash you want to verify, and the tool will check if it matches any of the generated hashes. Great for verifying file checksums or confirming hash values.
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Copy all hashes
Use the "Copy All" button to copy all four hashes at once, formatted with labels. Useful for documentation or when you need multiple hash types for the same input.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512?
These are different hash algorithms with varying security levels. MD5 (128-bit) is the oldest and fastest but is cryptographically broken—never use it for passwords or security. SHA-1 (160-bit) is also deprecated due to collision vulnerabilities. SHA-256 (256-bit) is the current standard for most applications—secure, fast, and widely supported. SHA-512 (512-bit) offers even higher security for critical applications like certificates and high-security systems. For new projects, always use SHA-256 or SHA-512. MD5 and SHA-1 are only acceptable for non-security purposes like checksums.
Can I use MD5 or SHA-1 for password hashing?
Absolutely not. MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken and should never be used for passwords or any security-sensitive data. Attackers can generate collisions (two different inputs producing the same hash) and use rainbow tables to crack passwords. For password hashing, use specialized algorithms like bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 that are designed to be slow and resistant to brute-force attacks. If you must use a SHA algorithm for passwords, use SHA-256 or SHA-512 with proper salting, but dedicated password hashing algorithms are strongly preferred.
What are hashes used for?
Hashes have many uses: File verification (checksums to detect corruption or tampering), Password storage (storing hashed passwords instead of plaintext), Digital signatures (verifying document authenticity), Blockchain (Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies use SHA-256), Data deduplication (identifying duplicate files), Git commits (Git uses SHA-1 for commit IDs), and API authentication (HMAC signatures). The key property of hashes is that they're one-way—you can't reverse a hash to get the original input, and even tiny changes in input produce completely different hashes.
How do I verify a file's checksum?
To verify a file's checksum: 1) Download the file and its published hash (usually MD5, SHA-1, or SHA-256). 2) Generate the hash of your downloaded file using this tool (for text files) or a command-line tool like shasum (Mac/Linux) or certutil (Windows). 3) Compare the generated hash with the published hash—they should match exactly. If they don't match, the file may be corrupted or tampered with. Use the "Compare Hash" feature in this tool to quickly verify if your generated hash matches the expected value. This is crucial for verifying software downloads and ensuring file integrity.