MD5 & SHA Hash Generator
Create MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hashes from text. SHA hashes use the browser Web Crypto API.
What is a hash?
A hash function turns input text into a fixed-length fingerprint. Developers use hashes for checksums, cache keys, signatures, deduplication, and quick comparisons where the original text should not be compared directly.
This page generates MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 output. SHA-256 and SHA-512 are the better default choices for modern integrity checks. MD5 and SHA-1 remain useful for legacy checksums, but not for new security designs.
Practical hash examples
API payload comparison: hash a copied JSON response before and after a change to confirm whether the text actually changed.
Cache keys: create a short, repeatable fingerprint from a string such as user:42:settings when testing cache behavior.
File integrity notes: compare a published SHA-256 digest with your locally calculated value when checking a downloaded file.
FAQ
Is MD5 still secure?
No. MD5 is cryptographically broken and should only be used for legacy checksums or non-security comparisons.
Which hash should I use for integrity checks?
Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for modern file, payload, and message integrity checks.
Can a hash be reversed?
A hash is designed to be one-way, but weak inputs can still be guessed by brute force or dictionary attacks.
Is hashing the same as encryption?
No. Encryption can be decrypted with a key. Hashing produces a fingerprint that is not meant to be reversed.