Hash Generator: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512
This hash generator creates MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes of any text as you type, or of any file you choose. Use it to check downloads, compare files, create checksums or test code. Everything is calculated in your browser, so your text and files never leave your device.
| Algorithm | Hash (click to copy) |
|---|
Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent to or stored on our server.
Quick answer: Type or paste text and the MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes appear at once. For example, the MD5 hash of “hello world” is 5eb63bbbe01eeed093cb22bb8f5acdc3. Click any hash to copy it.
How to use the hash generator
- Type or paste text into the box. Hashes update as you type. Text is hashed as UTF-8, the same as most programming languages.
- Or click Hash a file to get the checksums of a download, document or image. The file is read on your device, not uploaded.
- Tick Uppercase if the hash you are comparing with uses capital letters.
- Click a hash to copy it.
Which hash algorithm should I use?
| Algorithm | Length | Use today |
|---|---|---|
| MD5 | 128 bits (32 hex characters) | Quick checksums and cache keys only. Broken for security. |
| SHA-1 | 160 bits (40 hex) | Legacy systems and Git object IDs. Not safe for signatures. |
| SHA-256 | 256 bits (64 hex) | The standard choice for file checks, certificates and blockchains. |
| SHA-384 / SHA-512 | 384 / 512 bits | Extra security margin, often faster on 64-bit systems. |
What is a hash?
A hash function turns any amount of data into a short, fixed-length fingerprint. The same input always gives the same hash, but changing even one letter gives a completely different result, and you cannot work backwards from the hash to the original. That makes hashes ideal for checking that a file was not changed or corrupted: compare the SHA-256 shown on a download page with the one this tool calculates.
Hashes and passwords
Do not store passwords as plain MD5 or SHA hashes. They are designed to be fast, which makes them easy to guess with modern hardware. Websites should use slow password hashing such as bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2 with a unique salt. To create strong passwords, use the password generator.
Related developer tools: Base64 encode and decode, UUID generator and HTML entities.
FAQ
Can a hash be decrypted?
No. Hashing is one-way. Sites that “decrypt” MD5 just look up hashes of common words they have already calculated.
Why does my hash differ from another tool?
Check for a trailing space or line break, and whether the other tool uses the same text encoding. Both change the result.
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