Hash generator

How do you get the hash of some text?

SHA-256, SHA-512, SHA-1 and MD5 hashes of any text, made in your browser.

Algorithm

Text to hash

File, compare and encoding

Or choose a file to hash (up to 50 MB) or drop it here

You can also paste a file. Files stay on your device.

Show the hash as

Hash to compare with

Paste the hash you expect: hex or Base64. Spaces and colons are ignored.

SHA-256 hash

–

256 bits

How to use

Choose the algorithm. SHA-256 is the usual choice today.
Type or paste the text.
Copy the hash. To check a hash you were given, paste it into Hash to compare with.

MD5 reference digests for short ASCII text

Text	MD5 (hex)
a	0cc175b9c0f1b6a831c399e269772661
abc	900150983cd24fb0d6963f7d28e17f72
message digest	f96b697d7cb7938d525a2f31aaf161d0
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz	c3fcd3d76192e4007dfb496cca67e13b
1234567890	e807f1fcf82d132f9bb018ca6738a19f

Reference examples only; MD5 is not suitable for security checks.

How it works

A hash is a short fingerprint of some data. The same input always gives the same hash, but change a single character and the hash changes completely. You cannot work backwards from a hash to the data, which makes hashes handy for checking that data arrived unchanged, spotting duplicates and storing fingerprints instead of the data itself.

SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 are the Secure Hash Algorithms of FIPS 180-4, producing 160, 256, 384 and 512 bits. For example, the SHA-256 hash of abc starts with ba7816bf (RFC 6234). MD5 (RFC 1321) makes 128 bits. Text is hashed as UTF-8, and the result is written as hex or as Base64.

MD5 and SHA-1 are broken for security, because different data with the same hash can be made on purpose (RFC 6151 for MD5, RFC 6194 for SHA-1). They still catch accidental damage, so many download pages still list them. A hash is also not encryption, and it is not enough on its own to store passwords. The text is hashed in your browser and never uploaded.

Frequently asked questions

Which algorithm should I use?

SHA-256 for almost everything. Use MD5 or SHA-1 only when something else, such as an old download page, asks for them.

Why is my hash different from the one I was given?

Check that you picked the same algorithm and that the text is exactly the same, including spaces and line breaks. Even one changed character gives a completely different hash. The comparison field shows at once whether they match.

Can a hash be turned back into the text?

No. A hash throws information away. Short or common texts can be guessed by trying many, so do not rely on a plain hash to hide a password.

Does a newline change the hash?

Yes. A newline is part of the input, so otherwise identical text can produce a different digest.

Are hex and Base64 different hashes?

No. They are two ways to write the same digest bytes. Choose the encoding used by the value you are comparing.

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