Hash Generator
Generate SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes of text or a file, instantly. Uses your browser's built-in Web Crypto — everything stays on your device.
New to this? Read the Hash Generator guide →
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Hashes are computed with the Web Crypto API in your browser — text and files never leave your device. Note: MD5 isn't offered, as browsers' Web Crypto doesn't support it (and it's no longer secure).
How to use the hash generator
- Type or paste text, or choose a file.
- Pick an algorithm (SHA-256 is the usual choice). The hex digest appears immediately.
- Copy the digest. The same input always produces the same hash, and changing a single character changes the whole output.
Hashing uses the Web Crypto API in your browser, so even large files or sensitive text are never uploaded.
Which algorithm should I pick?
- SHA-256 — the sensible default: 64 hex characters, fast, and secure for integrity work.
- SHA-384 / SHA-512 — longer digests with more headroom, handy when a spec calls for them.
- SHA-1 — 40 hex characters, but broken for security because collisions have been demonstrated. Use it only to match a legacy system, never for new security work.
What hashes are good for
- File integrity. Compare a download's SHA-256 against the published checksum to confirm it arrived intact.
- Fingerprinting and de-duplication. Identify identical content by its hash.
- Signatures and version control. Hashes are the compact stand-in that gets signed, and how Git identifies commits.
Two things a hash is not: it is not encryption (it is one-way and has no key), and a plain hash is not enough to store passwords, which need a per-user salt and a deliberately slow function like bcrypt or Argon2. For the full picture, read SHA-256 explained.
Where you'd use this
Verifying that a file arrived intact, and generating the checksums you publish alongside a download so other people can do the same.
For example: You download a 2GB Linux ISO. Hashing it locally and comparing against the published SHA-256 confirms the transfer was not truncated and the mirror was not tampered with — a mismatch means download it again, from elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Which hash algorithms are supported?
Common digests such as MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512. Paste text to get its hash instantly for checksums or integrity checks.
Can I reverse a hash to recover the original text?
No. Cryptographic hashes are one-way by design — you cannot recover the input from the digest. Hashing is for verification, not encryption.
Is my input uploaded to hash it?
No. Hashes are computed locally in your browser, so sensitive input stays private.