Hash Generator Online | Free MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512 Converter Tool

What is a Hash Function?

A cryptographic hash function is a mathematical algorithm that takes an input (or 'message') and returns a fixed-size string of bytes, typically a digest that appears random. The hash is unique to each unique input, making it ideal for data integrity verification, digital signatures, and password storage.

Supported Hash Algorithms

MD5

Output: 128-bit (32 hex chars)

Speed: Very Fast

Use Case: Checksums, non-security applications

⚠️ Deprecated

SHA-1

Output: 160-bit (40 hex chars)

Speed: Fast

Use Case: Legacy systems, Git

⚡ Legacy

SHA-256

Output: 256-bit (64 hex chars)

Speed: Fast

Use Case: Certificates, blockchain, security

✅ Secure

SHA-384

Output: 384-bit (96 hex chars)

Speed: Moderate

Use Case: High-security applications

✅ Secure

SHA-512

Output: 512-bit (128 hex chars)

Speed: Moderate

Use Case: Maximum security requirements

✅ Secure

Common Use Cases

Data Integrity: Verify files haven't been tampered with by comparing hash values
Password Storage: Store password hashes instead of plain text (use modern algorithms like Argon2 for passwords)
Digital Signatures: Create unique identifiers for digital documents
Blockchain: SHA-256 is fundamental to Bitcoin and many cryptocurrencies
Checksums: Validate data transmission and file downloads
Fingerprinting: Create unique identifiers for data deduplication

Security Recommendations 2025

✅ Recommended: SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512 for all security-sensitive applications

⚠️ Use with Caution: MD5 and SHA-1 are considered cryptographically broken and should only be used for non-security purposes like checksums

🔐 For Password Hashing: Use specialized algorithms like Argon2, bcrypt, or scrypt instead of general-purpose hash functions