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Hash Generator (MD5, SHA-256)

Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 hashes

Text to Hash

MD5Not for security

128 bits (32 hex characters)

SHA-1Deprecated

160 bits (40 hex characters)

SHA-256Recommended

256 bits (64 hex characters)

SHA-512

512 bits (128 hex characters)

Security Note: Never use MD5 or SHA-1 for passwords or security-critical applications. For password hashing, use specialized algorithms like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2. These hash functions are suitable for checksums and data integrity verification.

Hash Algorithm Comparison

Algorithm	Output Size	Security	Speed
MD5	128 bits	Broken	Fastest
SHA-1	160 bits	Weak	Fast
SHA-256	256 bits	Strong	Moderate
SHA-512	512 bits	Strong	Varies

Common Use Cases

File Integrity

Verify downloads haven't been corrupted or tampered with by comparing hashes.

Password Storage

Never store plaintext passwords. Hash them (with proper algorithms like bcrypt, not raw SHA-256).

Data Deduplication

Quickly identify duplicate files without comparing full contents.

Caching Keys

Generate cache keys from request parameters for deterministic lookups.

Important Security Notes

Always use salts when hashing passwords
MD5 and SHA-1 should not be used for security
Use bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 for password hashing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hash function?

A hash function takes input data of any size and produces a fixed-size output (hash/digest). The same input always produces the same hash, but even a tiny change in input produces a completely different hash.

Is MD5 still safe to use?

MD5 is considered cryptographically broken and should not be used for security purposes like password hashing. It's still acceptable for checksums and non-security purposes. For security, use SHA-256 or better.

Can you reverse a hash?

Hash functions are one-way by design. You cannot mathematically reverse a hash. However, common passwords can be found using rainbow tables. This is why password hashing uses salts and specialized algorithms like bcrypt.

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Specialized Versions

Try our targeted calculators for specific use cases: