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Hash Generator
Hashes are computed with the Web Crypto API (crypto.subtle.digest) - your text never leaves this page.
Scroll down to learn more about this tool
Generate cryptographic hashes online
This hash generator computes SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 digests of any text, live as you type. It uses the browser's built-in Web Crypto API, which means the hashing is native, fast, and completely offline - a safe way to hash strings that you'd never paste into a random server-side tool.
What is a hash function?
A cryptographic hash function converts input of any length into a fixed-size fingerprint. The same input always produces the same hash; a one-character change produces a completely different one (the avalanche effect); and the function is one-way - you cannot recover the input from the digest. That makes hashes ideal for integrity checks (does this file match its checksum?), deduplication, cache keys, commit IDs and digital signatures.
Which algorithm should you use?
- SHA-256 - the modern default. Used by Git (newer versions), TLS certificates, blockchain and most checksums.
- SHA-512 - larger digest, often faster on 64-bit CPUs; also the basis of SHA-384.
- SHA-1 - broken for security (collisions are practical) but still seen in legacy systems and old Git objects. Use only for compatibility.
- MD5 - thoroughly broken; the Web Crypto API doesn't even offer it. Don't use it for anything security-related.
Hashing is not password storage
Plain SHA hashes are far too fast for passwords - attackers can try billions per second. Passwords need slow, salted algorithms like bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2. Use this tool for checksums, fingerprints and debugging, and a proper KDF for credentials. Related: Base64 encoder andUUID generator.