Hash Generator (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256)
Generate MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 hashes for your text and files. Free, fast, and secure - everything happens in your browser without data transmission.
MD5
128 bitsSHA-1
160 bitsSHA-256
256 bitsRecommendedHash Generator: Calculate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 Hashes
The Hash Generator is a free online tool that calculates cryptographic hash values for any text or file. Supporting MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 algorithms, this tool is essential for developers, security professionals, and anyone needing to verify file integrity or generate checksums.
Cryptographic hash functions convert any input into a fixed-length string of characters. This "fingerprint" is unique to the input data - even a single character change produces a completely different hash. Our tool processes everything locally in your browser, ensuring your sensitive data never leaves your machine.
How to Use
- Enter or paste the text to hash in the text area
- MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 hashes are generated automatically in real-time
- Compare results from different algorithms side by side
- Click the copy button next to the desired hash to copy it
- Use SHA-256 hash for modern secure applications
💡 Why Use a Hash Generator?
Hash functions are fundamental to modern computing: verifying download integrity, storing passwords securely, detecting data tampering, creating digital signatures. Yet many developers still use outdated command-line tools or online services that send data to servers.
This tool provides instant, private hash generation for multiple algorithms simultaneously. Compare hashes, verify checksums, or generate fingerprints for your data - all without any data leaving your browser.
🎯 Typical Use Case:
You download a software package and want to verify its integrity. The download page shows a SHA-256 checksum. You drop the file into this tool and instantly compare the calculated hash with the expected value.
🔧 Practical Use Cases
✅ File Integrity Verification
Verify downloaded files match their published checksums to ensure they haven't been tampered with.
SHA256: e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8...
🔐 Password Hashing (Development)
Generate test hashes during development. Note: For production, use bcrypt or Argon2 instead.
SHA256("password") = 5e884898da28...
📊 Data Deduplication
Create unique identifiers for content to detect duplicates in large datasets.
contentId = SHA256(fileContent)
🔍 API Request Signing
Many APIs require HMAC signatures. Generate test hashes to verify your implementation.
signature = SHA256(timestamp + body)
✨ Supported Algorithms
MD5 (128 bits)
Fast but cryptographically broken. Use only for non-security purposes like checksums.
SHA-1 (160 bits)
Deprecated for security. Still used in legacy systems and Git commits.
SHA-256 (256 bits) ⭐
Recommended. Industry standard for security applications. Part of SHA-2 family.
SHA-512 (512 bits)
Maximum security. Faster than SHA-256 on 64-bit systems. Use when extra security is needed.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which algorithm should I use?
SHA-256 is recommended for most purposes. It's secure, widely supported, and the industry standard. Use SHA-512 for extra security, MD5 only for non-security checksums, and avoid SHA-1 for new projects.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. All hash calculations happen locally in your browser using the Web Crypto API. Your data never leaves your machine.
Can I hash files?
Yes! You can either paste text or upload a file. The tool reads the file content locally and calculates all hashes simultaneously.
Why is MD5 considered insecure?
MD5 is vulnerable to collision attacks - two different inputs can produce the same hash. This makes it unsuitable for security purposes like digital signatures or password storage. It's still fine for non-security checksums.