A hash function is a mathematical algorithm that transforms input data of any size into a fixed-size string of characters. The output, called a hash or digest, is unique to the input data - even a small change in input produces a completely different hash.
Hash functions are one-way operations, meaning you cannot reverse the process to get the original input from the hash. This makes them perfect for data integrity verification and password storage.
| Algorithm | Output Size | Security | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD5 | 128-bit (32 hex) | Broken | Checksums only |
| SHA-1 | 160-bit (40 hex) | Deprecated | Legacy systems |
| SHA-256 | 256-bit (64 hex) | Secure | Recommended |
| SHA-512 | 512-bit (128 hex) | Very Secure | High security |
MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken and should not be used for security purposes. Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for new applications requiring cryptographic security.
You can generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hashes. SHA-256 and SHA-512 are recommended for security, while MD5 and SHA-1 are best reserved for non-security checksums.
No. Hashing happens entirely in your browser. Your text and files are never uploaded to a server, which keeps sensitive data private even when verifying confidential documents.
Yes. You can paste text or upload a file (up to a 50MB limit) and the tool computes the digest locally, which is ideal for verifying download integrity.
No. Hash functions are one-way, so the original input cannot be reconstructed from the digest. They are meant for integrity verification and fingerprinting, not for encryption you can reverse.
Both MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken and vulnerable to collision attacks. Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for anything where security matters; keep MD5 and SHA-1 only for simple checksums.