Hash Generator
Free online hash generator. No sign-up, no installation. Runs entirely in your browser.
Verify Hash
Compare a hash against your input to verify its correctness.
What is a Hash?
A hash is a fixed-length string generated from any input using a mathematical algorithm. No matter how large or small the input, the output is always the same length. For example, an MD5 hash is always 32 characters, and SHA-256 is always 64 characters.
Hashes are commonly used for verifying data integrity, securing passwords, creating digital signatures, and generating checksums. They are one-way functions, meaning you cannot reverse a hash to retrieve the original data.
How to Use This Hash Generator
- Enter Text or Upload a File: Paste text directly or select a file to hash.
- Choose HMAC Mode (Optional): Enable HMAC and enter a secret key for keyed-hash authentication.
- Select Output Format: Choose between Hexadecimal or Base64 encoding.
- Generate Hashes: Click "Generate Hashes" to compute all algorithms simultaneously.
- Copy Results: Click the copy button next to any hash or use "Copy All Hashes".
- Verify Hashes: Paste a hash and select the algorithm to verify if it matches your input.
Common Use Cases
- File Integrity Verification: Compare file hashes to ensure downloads aren't corrupted.
- Password Storage: Hash passwords before storing them in databases.
- Data Deduplication: Identify duplicate files by comparing their hashes.
- API Authentication: Generate HMAC signatures for secure API requests.
- Digital Signatures: Ensure data authenticity and non-repudiation.
- Checksum Validation: Verify file integrity across networks and storage systems.
What is MD5?
MD5 (Message-Digest Algorithm 5) produces a 128-bit hash value. It's fast but cryptographically broken and should not be used for security-critical purposes. Use it only for non-security checksums.
What is SHA-256?
SHA-256 is part of the SHA-2 family and produces a 256-bit hash. It's one of the most secure and widely-adopted hash algorithms, used in blockchain, digital signatures, TLS, and security protocols.
What is HMAC?
HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code) combines a cryptographic hash function with a secret key. It authenticates messages and ensures both integrity and authenticity in APIs and secure communications.
Is my data secure?
Yes. All processing happens entirely in your browser. No data is sent to our servers or any external service. Your text and files never leave your device.
What's the difference between Hex and Base64?
Both are encodings of the same binary hash. Hexadecimal uses 16 characters (0-9, A-F), while Base64 uses 64 characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, +, /). Base64 is more compact.
Why should I use SHA-512 instead of MD5?
SHA-512 is cryptographically stronger, produces a longer hash (512-bit vs 128-bit), and resists collision attacks. MD5 is vulnerable to collisions and should only be used for non-security purposes.