Hash generator
Generate MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 checksums, in your browser.
Use this hash generator to turn any text into MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 digests in one step, making it easy to compare checksums or verify that data hasn't changed. A hash is a fixed-length fingerprint of your input: change a single character and the output changes completely, which is why hashes are used to confirm file integrity and store values that shouldn't be reversible. SHA-256 is the modern default for integrity checks, while MD5 and SHA-1 remain useful for matching legacy checksums. All hashing happens client-side, so your input never leaves your machine.
Frequently asked questions
Which hash should I use?
SHA-256 for anything new, since MD5 and SHA-1 are considered broken for security purposes. Use the older ones only to match an existing checksum.
Can I reverse a hash back to the original text?
No. Hashing is one-way by design, though weak hashes of common values can sometimes be looked up in precomputed tables.
Why does the same input always give the same hash?
Hash functions are deterministic, so identical input always produces identical output — that property is what makes them useful for verification.
Should I use a hash to store passwords?
Not a plain MD5 or SHA hash — those are too fast and easy to brute-force. Passwords need a slow, salted algorithm like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2, which this tool is not intended for.
What is a hash collision?
A collision is when two different inputs produce the same hash. MD5 and SHA-1 have practical collision attacks, which is why they're unsafe for security; SHA-256 has no known practical collisions.
Why do MD5 and SHA-256 produce different lengths?
Each algorithm has a fixed digest size — MD5 is 128 bits (32 hex chars), SHA-1 is 160 bits (40), and SHA-256 is 256 bits (64). The length is determined by the algorithm, not the input.
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