How to use Hash Generator
To generate a hash, type or paste your text into the Input field. The tool automatically computes MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 hashes simultaneously and displays all three results below. Click Copy next to any hash to send it to your clipboard. There is no Generate button to press — the hashes update in real time as you type, so you can watch them change character by character.
For file integrity checks, paste the file's contents as text (or the file path string) and compare the SHA-256 output against the hash provided by the file's publisher. If the hashes match exactly (character for character, case-insensitive), the content is identical. Note that this tool hashes text input — for binary file hashing, use a command-line tool like sha256sum or openssl dgst.
Why use our Hash Generator?
- Three hash algorithms in one tool — MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 computed simultaneously
- Uses your browser's built-in Web Crypto API — no external library, no server request
- 100% private — your input text never leaves your browser
- Real-time output — hashes update as you type without clicking a button
- One-click copy for any hash output
- Three hash algorithms — MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 — computed simultaneously in one view
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cryptographic hash and what is it used for?
A cryptographic hash function takes an input of any length and produces a fixed-length string (the hash or digest) that uniquely represents that input. The same input always produces the same hash, but even a one-character change in the input produces a completely different hash. Hash functions are one-way: you cannot reverse a hash back to the original input. They are used for: verifying file integrity (download checksums), storing passwords securely (as salted hashes), creating digital signatures, detecting data corruption, and deduplication in storage systems.
What is the difference between MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256?
MD5 produces a 128-bit (32 hex character) hash and was widely used but is now considered cryptographically broken — it is vulnerable to collision attacks where two different inputs produce the same hash. SHA-1 produces a 160-bit (40 hex character) hash and was the industry standard for years, but it too has been demonstrated vulnerable to collision attacks and is deprecated for security use by major standards bodies. SHA-256 is part of the SHA-2 family, produces a 256-bit (64 hex character) hash, and remains cryptographically strong. For any security-sensitive use (passwords, certificates, digital signatures), use SHA-256 or stronger. MD5 and SHA-1 are still acceptable for non-security uses like checksums, deduplication, or cache keys where collision resistance is not a requirement.
Is it safe to hash sensitive data in this tool?
Yes. This tool uses your browser's native Web Crypto API (the same API used by HTTPS and secure web apps) — no data is sent to any server, logged, or stored. Hashing happens entirely inside your browser tab. Closing or refreshing the page clears all input immediately. You can safely hash passwords, API keys, configuration values, or any sensitive string for verification purposes.
Can I use this tool to hash passwords for storage?
For learning and experimentation, yes. For production password storage, no — and for an important reason: MD5, SHA-1, and even plain SHA-256 are too fast for password hashing. Attackers can try billions of combinations per second using GPUs. Proper password hashing requires purpose-built slow algorithms with a salt: bcrypt, scrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2. These algorithms are intentionally slow and add a unique salt to prevent rainbow table attacks. Never store passwords as plain MD5 or SHA-256 hashes in a real application.
Why does the same text always produce the same hash?
This is the deterministic property of hash functions — a core requirement. Given the same input and the same algorithm, the output is always identical. This is what makes hashes useful for verification: if you hash a file before and after transfer and the hashes match, the file is unchanged. If hashes were random, they would be useless for integrity checking. The security property is not randomness but rather collision resistance (it should be computationally infeasible to find two different inputs that produce the same hash) and pre-image resistance (given a hash, it should be infeasible to find the original input).