Hash Generator — SHA-256, SHA-1, SHA-512, MD5
—————About the Hash Generator
A hash function turns any input into a fixed-length fingerprint that is easy to compute and practically impossible to reverse. Paste text and this tool shows all five common digests at once — SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 from the SHA-2 family, legacy SHA-1, and MD5.
Hashes are used to verify downloads, deduplicate content, store password-derived keys and fingerprint data. The SHA-2 digests are computed with the browser's native Web Crypto API; MD5 and SHA-1 are offered for compatibility with legacy systems and must not be used for security.
How to use the Hash Generator
- Type or paste the text to hash.
- All five digests are computed instantly as you type.
- Hover a row and click copy next to the hash you need.
Which hash should I use?
SHA-256 — the general-purpose default; fast, collision-resistant, everywhere. SHA-384 / SHA-512 — SHA-2 variants for longer outputs. SHA-1 — broken for collision resistance (deprecated since 2017); legacy only. MD5 — trivially collidable; checksums and cache keys only, never security.
Frequently asked questions
Is hashing the same as encryption?
No. Encryption is reversible with a key; a hash is a one-way fingerprint. You cannot “decrypt” a SHA-256 hash back into the input.
Why is MD5 still shown?
Legacy systems still use MD5 for checksums and cache keys. It is fine for detecting accidental corruption, but never for passwords or signatures.
Can two different inputs have the same hash?
In theory any finite digest allows collisions, but for SHA-2 the odds are astronomically small. For MD5 and SHA-1, crafted collisions are practical — another reason to prefer SHA-256.
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