Hash Generator

Generate hash values - MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256

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Free Hash Generator - Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 Hashes Online

Why Use Our Hash Generator?

Our free hash generator creates cryptographic hashes from any text using popular algorithms. Support for MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256. Instant client-side generation for security and speed 🔐

Perfect for developers, security professionals, and system administrators who need to generate hashes for password verification, data integrity checks, or file checksums.

Key Features

  • 3 Algorithms - MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256
  • Instant Results - Client-side generation
  • Private & Secure - No server transmission
  • Copy Hash - One-click copy
  • Large Display - Easy to read
  • No Registration - Completely free

Hash Algorithms Explained

MD5 (Message Digest 5)

128-bit hash (32 hexadecimal characters). Fast but cryptographically broken. Use only for non-security purposes like checksums.

Output: 5d41402abc4b2a76b9719d911017c592

SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm 1)

160-bit hash (40 hexadecimal characters). Deprecated for security but still used in Git and legacy systems.

Output: aaf4c61ddcc5e8a2dabede0f3b482cd9aea9434d

SHA-256 (SHA-2 family)

256-bit hash (64 hexadecimal characters). Cryptographically secure. Recommended for security applications and modern systems.

Output: a591a6d40bf420404a011733cfb7b190d62c65bf0bcda32b57b277d9ad9f146e

How to Generate Hashes

  1. Enter Text - Type or paste the text you want to hash in the input field.
  2. Select Algorithm - Choose MD5, SHA-1, or SHA-256 based on your needs.
  3. Generate - Click "Generate Hash" to create the cryptographic hash.
  4. View Result - The hash is displayed in large, easily readable format.
  5. Copy Hash - Use the "Copy Hash" button to copy the result to clipboard.

Common Use Cases

Password Storage

Hash passwords before storage. Always use SHA-256 or stronger with salt for production systems.

Data Integrity

Verify file integrity by comparing hash values. Detect corruption or unauthorized modifications.

File Checksums

Generate checksums for files to verify downloads or detect duplicate files.

Digital Signatures

Create unique fingerprints for documents, messages, or data for verification purposes.

Version Control

Git uses SHA-1 hashes to identify commits, trees, and blobs in repositories.

API Authentication

Generate hash-based signatures for API requests, tokens, or authentication systems.

Hash Algorithm Comparison

Algorithm Output Size Security Status Speed Recommended For
MD5 128-bit (32 hex) Broken Very Fast Checksums only
SHA-1 160-bit (40 hex) Deprecated Fast Legacy systems
SHA-256 256-bit (64 hex) Secure Moderate Security applications

Hash Properties

Cryptographic hash functions have these important properties:

  • Deterministic: Same input always produces same output
  • Fixed Length: Output is always same length regardless of input size
  • One-Way: Cannot reverse hash to get original input (computationally infeasible)
  • Avalanche Effect: Small input change causes completely different hash
  • Collision Resistant: Hard to find two inputs that produce same hash (in secure algorithms)
  • Pre-image Resistant: Hard to find input that produces specific hash

Security Best Practices

Do's

  • Use SHA-256 or stronger for security purposes
  • Add salt when hashing passwords
  • Use purpose-built functions like bcrypt for passwords
  • Verify file integrity with checksums
  • Store only hashes, never plain passwords
  • Use HMAC for message authentication

Don'ts

  • Don't use MD5 or SHA-1 for security
  • Don't hash passwords without salt
  • Don't assume hashes are encryption
  • Don't use weak or predictable salts
  • Don't create custom hash algorithms
  • Don't rely solely on hashing for authentication

When to Use Each Algorithm

Use MD5 For:

  • File checksums (non-security)
  • Cache keys
  • Database row identifiers
  • Non-cryptographic hashing

Use SHA-1 For:

  • Git commit identifiers
  • Legacy system compatibility
  • Non-security checksums
  • Existing infrastructure

Use SHA-256 For:

  • Password hashing (with salt)
  • Digital signatures
  • SSL/TLS certificates
  • Blockchain applications
  • Security tokens

Understanding Salting

For password hashing, always add a salt (random data) before hashing:

Without Salt: hash("password123") → Always same hash

With Salt: hash("salt_xyz" + "password123") → Unique hash

Salting prevents rainbow table attacks and ensures identical passwords have different hashes.

Important: Hashing is NOT encryption! Hashes are one-way functions that cannot be reversed. Use encryption (AES, RSA) when you need to decrypt data later. MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken - never use them for password storage or security-critical applications.
Pro Tip: This tool processes everything client-side - your text never leaves your browser, ensuring privacy. For password storage, always use specialized functions like bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 which add work factor and salt automatically. When verifying file downloads, compare the generated hash with the official checksum provided by the source. For API signatures, use HMAC-SHA256 which combines hashing with a secret key. Remember: hashing "hello" vs "Hello" produces completely different results - hashes are case-sensitive! Test your hash implementation by verifying known test vectors before production use. For blockchain or cryptocurrency applications, SHA-256 is the standard choice!

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