Free Hash Generator Online
Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 checksums from text or files in your browser. Paste an expected hash to verify a match. No signup, nothing uploaded.
After you generate, matching algorithms highlight green; mismatches highlight red. Comparison is case-insensitive.
Checksums for file integrity and download verification
A hash generator turns text or a file into a fixed-length fingerprint. Publishers often post an SHA-256 or MD5 next to a download; generate the same algorithm locally and use Compare to expected to confirm the bytes match. Prefer SHA-256 or SHA-512 for new work. MD5 and SHA-1 remain useful for legacy checksums but are not secure against collision attacks. All hashing here runs in your browser. Sending a hash in a query string or URL? Percent-encode it first so characters like + and / in a Base64-style hash survive the URL intact.
About Cryptographic Hashes
- • MD5: 128-bit hash (32 hex characters). Fast, but not safe for security use.
- • SHA-1: 160-bit hash (40 hex characters). Deprecated for security.
- • SHA-256: 256-bit hash (64 hex characters). Common choice for new checksums.
- • SHA-384: 384-bit hash (96 hex characters). Longer SHA-2 variant.
- • SHA-512: 512-bit hash (128 hex characters). Longest SHA-2 option here.
Use cases: File integrity checks, digital signatures, and data deduplication. Prefer a password KDF (bcrypt, Argon2) for storing passwords.
How to Use
- 1Choose between 'Text' or 'File' mode depending on what you want to hash
- 2For text: enter or paste your content in the text area
- 3For files: click 'Choose File' and select your file from your computer
- 4Select one or more hash algorithms (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512)
- 5Click 'Generate Hashes' to compute the hash values
- 6Copy individual hashes using the copy button next to each result
Hash Examples
Text: 'Hello World'
MD5: b10a8db164e0754105b7a99be72e3fe5MD5 hash of the text 'Hello World'
SHA-256 Example
SHA-256: a591a6d40bf420404a011733cfb7b190d62c65bf0bcda32b57b277d9ad9f146eSHA-256 is recommended for most security applications
File Integrity
Compare hash before and after file transfer to verify integrityIf hashes match, the file hasn't been modified or corrupted
Hash Generator Best Practices
- •Prefer SHA-256 or SHA-512 for new work. MD5 and SHA-1 are outdated for security.
- •Hashes are deterministic: the same input always produces the same hash.
- •A tiny change in the input produces a very different hash.
- •Hashing is one-way. You cannot recover the original data from a hash.
- •Compare hashes after downloads or transfers to check integrity.
- •Publish SHA-256 (and SHA-512 if you want a second check) next to critical files.
- •Never use MD5 or SHA-1 for passwords or security-critical work.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hash function?
A hash function takes input of any size and returns a fixed-length fingerprint. The same input always yields the same hash. A small change in the input produces a very different hash.
What's the difference between MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256?
They are different algorithms with different strength. MD5 and SHA-1 are older and weak for security work. Prefer SHA-256 or SHA-512 for new checksums and integrity checks.
Can I use this to hash passwords?
You can generate hashes here, but this tool is meant for checksums and file verification. For application passwords, use bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Hashing runs in your browser with JavaScript. Text and files stay on your device.
Can I verify file integrity with this tool?
Yes. Upload a file, generate its hash, and compare it with the hash from the publisher. Matching hashes mean the bytes match.