A hash function turns any input into a fixed-length fingerprint: the same input always produces the same hash, and even a one-character change produces a completely different one. Hashes are one-way — you cannot compute the original text back from its hash.

Which algorithm should I use?

SHA-256 is the sensible default for anything new — it’s the backbone of modern software integrity checks. SHA-512 is its longer sibling. MD5 and SHA-1 are broken for security purposes (collisions can be manufactured), but remain fine for non-security jobs like checksums, cache keys and deduplication.

Not for anything security-related — collisions (two different inputs with the same MD5) can be created deliberately, so it must not be used for passwords, signatures or certificates. It survives in legacy systems for file checksums and quick fingerprints, which is why we still offer it, clearly labelled.

Is my text sent to a server to be hashed?

No. MD5 runs in our own JavaScript implementation and the SHA family uses your browser’s built-in Web Crypto — all locally. Nothing is transmitted, logged or stored, and the page works offline once loaded.

Can I “decrypt” a hash back to the original text?

No — hashing is one-way by design and is not encryption. The only way to “reverse” a hash is to guess inputs until one matches, which is why short, common passwords are crackable via lookup tables while long random ones are not.

Why does the same text give a different hash than on another site?

Almost always an invisible difference: a trailing newline or space, different line endings (Windows CRLF vs Unix LF), or a different text encoding. Hash functions are exact — byte-for-byte — so “hello ” and “hello” hash completely differently.

Are these hashes suitable for storing passwords?

No — fast hashes like SHA-256 are the wrong tool for passwords precisely because they’re fast to brute-force. Password storage needs slow, salted algorithms like bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2, applied server-side. Use this tool for checksums, fingerprints and learning.

Hash Generator (MD5, SHA-256)

Compute MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 hashes of any text instantly — all in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Files never leave your device Instant — no upload waitFree, no sign-up

Text to hash

Everything is computed in your browser — your text never leaves this page. A SHA-256 hash is one of 2²⁵⁶ (≈ 1.15 × 10⁷⁷) possible values — more than the estimated number of atoms in the observable universe.

MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 — hashed as you type, never uploaded

Type or paste any text and this hash generator computes its MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 fingerprints live, with a copy button on each. A SHA-256 hash is one of 2²⁵⁶ possible values — roughly 1.15 × 10⁷⁷, more than the estimated number of atoms in the observable universe — which is why matching hashes mean matching data.

Computed on your device, honestly

Hashing something on a website that ships your text to a server first is self-defeating. Here the SHA family runs on your browser’s built-in Web Crypto engine, and MD5 runs in our own implementation — written from the RFC 1321 specification and verified against its official test vectors. Nothing leaves your device; the page works offline once loaded.

The right algorithm for the job

We label instead of lecture: SHA-256 is the recommended default;MD5 is marked “checksums only” because collision attacks broke it for security use — yet it remains everywhere in legacy checksums, cache keys and deduplication, which is why you still need a trustworthy way to compute it. And no fast hash — not even SHA-512 — is appropriate for storing passwords; that job belongs to bcrypt/Argon2 on a server.

Common uses

Verifying a download matches a published checksum, generating stable cache keys, fingerprinting content to detect changes, comparing large texts without sharing them — two people can hash locally and compare 64 hex characters instead of the document itself.

Related free tools

Need a random identifier instead of a content fingerprint? That’s theUUID generator. Encoding data rather than fingerprinting it? See theBase64 encoder / decoder — and remember: Base64 is reversible, hashes are not.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a hash?
A hash function turns any input into a fixed-length fingerprint: the same input always produces the same hash, and even a one-character change produces a completely different one. Hashes are one-way — you cannot compute the original text back from its hash.
Which algorithm should I use?
SHA-256 is the sensible default for anything new — it’s the backbone of modern software integrity checks. SHA-512 is its longer sibling. MD5 and SHA-1 are broken for security purposes (collisions can be manufactured), but remain fine for non-security jobs like checksums, cache keys and deduplication.
Is MD5 safe to use?
Not for anything security-related — collisions (two different inputs with the same MD5) can be created deliberately, so it must not be used for passwords, signatures or certificates. It survives in legacy systems for file checksums and quick fingerprints, which is why we still offer it, clearly labelled.
Is my text sent to a server to be hashed?
No. MD5 runs in our own JavaScript implementation and the SHA family uses your browser’s built-in Web Crypto — all locally. Nothing is transmitted, logged or stored, and the page works offline once loaded.
Can I “decrypt” a hash back to the original text?
No — hashing is one-way by design and is not encryption. The only way to “reverse” a hash is to guess inputs until one matches, which is why short, common passwords are crackable via lookup tables while long random ones are not.
Why does the same text give a different hash than on another site?
Almost always an invisible difference: a trailing newline or space, different line endings (Windows CRLF vs Unix LF), or a different text encoding. Hash functions are exact — byte-for-byte — so “hello ” and “hello” hash completely differently.
Are these hashes suitable for storing passwords?
No — fast hashes like SHA-256 are the wrong tool for passwords precisely because they’re fast to brute-force. Password storage needs slow, salted algorithms like bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2, applied server-side. Use this tool for checksums, fingerprints and learning.