Hash Generator

Generate cryptographic hashes (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-3) of text or files.

About the Hash Generator

This tool generates cryptographic hashes for your input data (text or files) using various algorithms like MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256/384/512, and the SHA-3 series. A hash function converts an arbitrary size of data into a fixed-size string of characters, which is unique to the given input.

Why Use This Tool?

Hash generators are used for: verifying data integrity (checksums); password storage (though MD5/SHA-1 are not recommended for this anymore); digital signatures (as part of the process); and in various cryptographic protocols. This tool provides a quick way to generate these hashes client-side.

Example Use Cases

  • Generating an MD5 or SHA-256 hash of a downloaded file to verify its integrity against a known checksum.
  • Creating a SHA-512 hash of a sensitive piece of text for secure comparison or storage (with appropriate salting, not provided by this tool).
  • Experimenting with different hash algorithms to understand their output formats and lengths.

Pro Tips

  • Algorithm Choice: For security-sensitive applications (like password hashing or signature verification), use strong algorithms like SHA-256 or higher. Avoid MD5 and SHA-1 for such purposes due to known vulnerabilities.
  • Output Format: Choose between Hex (lowercase or uppercase) or Base64 for the hash output, depending on where you need to use it. Hex is common for display, while Base64 is often used for transmission.