Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512 hashes from text or files. Free checksum calculator with 100% client-side processing.
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MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512 - all in one tool
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Which algorithm should you use?
| Algorithm | Output Size | Security | Speed | Recommended Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD5 | 128-bit (32 hex) | Broken | Fastest | Non-security checksums only |
| SHA-1 | 160-bit (40 hex) | Broken | Fast | Legacy systems (avoid for new) |
| SHA-256 | 256-bit (64 hex) | Secure | Medium | Recommended for most uses |
| SHA-384 | 384-bit (96 hex) | Secure | Slower | High security needs |
| SHA-512 | 512-bit (128 hex) | Secure | Slower* | Maximum security |
MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken and should never be used for security purposes like password storage, digital signatures, or certificate validation. They remain useful for non-security checksums and legacy compatibility. For any security-critical application, use SHA-256 or higher.
Common applications for cryptographic hashes
Understanding MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512
Message Digest 5, released in 1991. Fast but cryptographically broken since 2004. Collisions can be created in seconds. Use only for non-security checksums.
Secure Hash Algorithm 1, released in 1995. Deprecated since 2017 when Google demonstrated a practical collision. Still used in legacy systems but should be avoided.
Part of SHA-2 family, released in 2001. Currently secure with no practical attacks known. Used in Bitcoin, TLS certificates, and recommended for most applications.
Larger SHA-2 variant with 512-bit output. More secure than SHA-256, can be faster on 64-bit systems. Use for maximum security requirements.
Everything about cryptographic hashes and checksums
A hash function is a mathematical algorithm that converts any input data into a fixed-size string of characters (the hash). The same input always produces the same hash, but even a tiny change in input produces a completely different hash. Hashes are one-way - you cannot reverse them to get the original input.
MD5 (Message Digest 5) produces a 128-bit hash. It's fast but cryptographically broken - collisions have been found. Use MD5 only for non-security purposes like checksums, cache keys, or data deduplication. Never use MD5 for passwords or security-critical applications.
SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) is part of the SHA-2 family. It produces a 256-bit hash and is currently considered secure with no known practical attacks. SHA-256 is used in Bitcoin, SSL certificates, and is recommended for most security applications.
MD5 produces 128-bit hashes and is cryptographically broken (collisions possible). SHA-256 produces 256-bit hashes and is secure. SHA-256 is slower but much more secure. Use SHA-256 for security; MD5 only for non-security checksums where speed matters.
For security (passwords, certificates): Use SHA-256 or SHA-512. For file checksums (downloads): SHA-256 preferred, MD5 acceptable. For caching/deduplication: MD5 is fast and adequate. For maximum security: SHA-512. Never use MD5 or SHA-1 for security purposes.
Upload your file to generate its hash, then compare with the hash provided by the source. If they match exactly, the file is intact and unmodified. Even a single byte change will produce a completely different hash, making tampering detectable.
Yes, all processing happens in your browser using the Web Crypto API. Your data never leaves your device - nothing is sent to any server. This is perfect for hashing sensitive data or files you don't want to upload anywhere.
Yes, our generator handles files of any size since processing happens in your browser. Large files may take longer to hash. For very large files (GB+), the progress may appear slow but will complete. SHA-256 is faster than SHA-512 for large files.
Both have been "broken" - researchers have demonstrated collision attacks where two different inputs produce the same hash. For MD5, collisions can be created in seconds. SHA-1 collisions require significant resources but are practical. This makes them unsuitable for security.
No, hash functions are one-way by design. You cannot mathematically reverse a hash. However, common passwords can be found using rainbow tables (precomputed hash databases). This is why passwords should use salted hashes, not plain hashes.
A salt is random data added to a password before hashing. It prevents rainbow table attacks since even identical passwords have different hashes. Modern password storage uses algorithms like bcrypt or Argon2 which include salting automatically.
SHA-384 and SHA-512 are larger variants of SHA-2. SHA-512 produces 512-bit hashes (128 hex characters) and is slightly faster than SHA-256 on 64-bit systems. SHA-384 is SHA-512 truncated to 384 bits. Use them for maximum security requirements.
Determinism is a fundamental property of hash functions - the same input must always produce identical output. This enables verification: you can confirm data integrity by comparing hashes. If hashes were random, verification would be impossible.
Mathematically yes (called collisions), but for secure algorithms like SHA-256, finding such collisions is computationally infeasible - it would take longer than the age of the universe. For broken algorithms like MD5, collisions can be deliberately created.
Our free hash generator creates MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 hashes from any text or file. All processing happens in your browser using the Web Crypto API - your data is never uploaded to any server, making it safe for hashing sensitive information.
Hashing is the process of converting any data into a fixed-size string of characters using a mathematical function. Hash functions are one-way (cannot be reversed) anddeterministic (same input always produces same output). Even a tiny change in input produces a completely different hash, making them ideal for data integrity verification.
When downloading software, publishers often provide a checksum (hash) of the file. After downloading, you can generate the file's hash and compare it with the published checksum. If they match, the file is intact and hasn't been tampered with during download.
For any security-related use, SHA-256 is the recommended choice. It's used in Bitcoin's proof-of-work, TLS/SSL certificates, code signing, and countless security applications. With 256 bits of output, it provides 2^128 bits of collision resistance, making brute-force attacks computationally infeasible.