Hash Generator

Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 hashes from text instantly.

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MD5 Hash

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SHA-1 Hash

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SHA-256 Hash

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SHA-384 Hash

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SHA-512 Hash

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What is a Hash Function?

A hash function is a mathematical algorithm that takes an input (or 'message') and returns a fixed-size string of bytes. The output, called a hash value or digest, is typically a hexadecimal string that appears random but is deterministic—the same input always produces the same hash.

Hash functions are one-way functions, meaning you cannot reverse the process to get the original input from the hash. This makes them ideal for security applications like password storage and data integrity verification.

Given the same input, a hash function will always produce the same output. This property is essential for verifying data integrity and detecting changes in files or messages.

Hash Algorithm Types

Different hash algorithms offer varying levels of security and output sizes:

MD5

MD5 (Message Digest 5) produces a 128-bit (16-byte) hash, typically displayed as 32 hexadecimal characters. While fast, MD5 is cryptographically broken and should not be used for security purposes. It's still useful for checksums and non-security applications.

SHA-1

SHA-1 (Secure Hash Algorithm 1) produces a 160-bit (20-byte) hash, displayed as 40 hexadecimal characters. SHA-1 is also considered cryptographically broken and deprecated for security use, but still used in legacy systems.

SHA-256

SHA-256 (part of SHA-2 family) produces a 256-bit (32-byte) hash, displayed as 64 hexadecimal characters. It's widely used and considered secure for most applications, including blockchain technology and digital signatures.

SHA-384

SHA-384 (part of SHA-2 family) produces a 384-bit (48-byte) hash, displayed as 96 hexadecimal characters. It offers higher security than SHA-256 and is used in applications requiring stronger cryptographic guarantees.

SHA-512

SHA-512 (part of SHA-2 family) produces a 512-bit (64-byte) hash, displayed as 128 hexadecimal characters. It's the strongest SHA-2 variant and is used in high-security applications.

Common Uses for Hash Functions

Hash functions are used in many applications across computing:

File integrity verification: Verify that files haven't been corrupted during download or transfer by comparing hash values
Password storage: Store password hashes instead of plain text passwords. When a user logs in, hash their input and compare it to the stored hash
Data integrity: Ensure data hasn't been tampered with by storing and comparing hash values
Digital signatures: Hash the message, then encrypt the hash with a private key to create a signature
Blockchain technology: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies use SHA-256 to link blocks and create the blockchain structure

Hash Security Considerations

Not all hash functions are suitable for security applications:

MD5 is cryptographically broken and vulnerable to collision attacks. Never use MD5 for password hashing or security-sensitive applications.
SHA-1 is also considered broken and deprecated. Avoid using SHA-1 for new security applications.
SHA-256 and SHA-512 are currently considered secure and are recommended for security applications. They are widely used in modern systems.
For password hashing, always use salted hashes (add random data before hashing) and use specialized algorithms like bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 rather than raw hash functions.

Hash Collisions

A hash collision occurs when two different inputs produce the same hash output. While theoretically possible with any hash function, secure algorithms make collisions computationally infeasible.

MD5 collisions can be found relatively easily, which is why it's considered broken. Researchers have demonstrated MD5 collisions in minutes using modern hardware.

SHA-256 collisions are currently computationally infeasible. Finding a collision would require more computational power than exists on Earth, making it secure for practical purposes.

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