Hash Generator: Compute SHA-256, SHA-512, and More

Cryptographic hash functions are one-way functions that convert any input into a fixed-size output. They’re used for password storage, data integrity verification, digital signatures, and more. Our tool computes multiple hash algorithms simultaneously so you can compare and choose the right one.

What is a Hash?

A hash function takes input of any size and produces a fixed-size output (the “digest”). Key properties:

Deterministic: The same input always produces the same hash
One-way: You cannot reverse a hash to find the original input
Avalanche effect: A tiny change in input completely changes the output
Collision-resistant: It’s extremely hard to find two inputs with the same hash

Example

Input:  "hello"
SHA-256: 2cf24dba5fb0a30e26e83b2ac5b9e29e1b161e5c1fa7425e73043362938b9824

Input:  "Hello" (capital H)
SHA-256: 185f8db32271fe25f561a6fc938b2e264306ec304eda518007d1764826381969

One character change produces a completely different hash.

Hash Algorithms Compared

Algorithm	Output Size	Security	Speed	Use Case
SHA-1	160 bits (40 hex)	Weak (broken)	Fast	Legacy systems, checksums
SHA-256	256 bits (64 hex)	Strong	Medium	General purpose, blockchain
SHA-384	384 bits (96 hex)	Strong	Medium	TLS certificates
SHA-512	512 bits (128 hex)	Strong	Medium	High-security applications

SHA-1: Deprecated

SHA-1 was widely used but is now considered broken — researchers have demonstrated practical collision attacks. Don’t use it for security-critical applications. It’s still acceptable for non-security checksums (like Git commit hashes).

SHA-256: The Standard

SHA-256 is the most widely used hash algorithm today. It’s used in:

Bitcoin and blockchain
TLS/SSL certificates
Package integrity verification (npm, pip)
Digital signatures
Content-addressable storage

SHA-384 and SHA-512: Extra Security

These provide larger output sizes for applications requiring extra security margins. SHA-512 is actually faster than SHA-256 on 64-bit processors because it operates on 64-bit words natively.

Common Use Cases

Verifying File Integrity

Download sites often publish SHA-256 checksums:

sha256sum ubuntu-24.04.iso
# Compare with the published hash to verify the file hasn't been tampered with

Password Storage

Never store passwords in plain text. Hash them first:

password: "mypassword123"
SHA-256:  "ef92b778..."

Important: For actual password storage, use dedicated password hashing algorithms like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 — not raw SHA-256. These add salt and computational cost to resist brute-force attacks.

API Request Signing

Many APIs use hash-based signatures for authentication:

signature = SHA-256(secret_key + request_body + timestamp)

Content Deduplication

Hash file contents to detect duplicates without comparing entire files:

file_hash = SHA-256(file_contents)
# Store the hash as a unique identifier for the content

Subresource Integrity (SRI)

Browsers verify that CDN-loaded scripts haven’t been tampered with:

<script src="https://cdn.example.com/lib.js"
  integrity="sha256-abc123..."
  crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

How to Use Our Hash Generator

Type or paste text into the input field
View all hash outputs (SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512) computed in real-time
Click any hash value to copy it to your clipboard

Features

Real-time computation: Hashes update as you type
Multiple algorithms: Compare SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 side by side
One-click copy: Click any hash to copy it
Web Crypto API: Uses your browser’s built-in cryptographic functions for accurate results

Tips

SHA-256 is the best default choice for most purposes
Use SHA-512 if you need a longer hash or work with 64-bit systems
Avoid SHA-1 for any security-critical application
The tool runs entirely in your browser — your input is never sent to a server

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I decrypt a hash? No. Hash functions are one-way by design. You cannot reverse a hash to find the original input. “Cracking” a hash involves trying many inputs until one matches, not actually reversing the function.

What about MD5? MD5 produces a 128-bit hash and is severely broken for security purposes. It’s still used for non-security checksums but should never be used for passwords, signatures, or integrity verification.

Why do different tools give different hashes for the same text? Usually due to encoding differences. Ensure both tools use the same text encoding (UTF-8 is standard). Also check for hidden characters like trailing newlines.

Is SHA-256 quantum-resistant? SHA-256 is partially resistant to quantum attacks. Grover’s algorithm could theoretically reduce its security to ~128 bits, which is still considered secure. For post-quantum security, SHA-384 or SHA-512 provides a larger margin.

Try our free Hash Generator to compute cryptographic hashes for any text instantly.