Hash Calculator
Generate cryptographic hash values for text or files. Calculate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and other hash functions instantly.
Understanding Hash Functions
A hash function is a mathematical algorithm that transforms data into a fixed-size string of characters. Key properties include:
- Deterministic: Same input always produces the same hash
- Fixed Length: Output has fixed size regardless of input size
- Avalanche Effect: Small input changes create vastly different hashes
- One-Way Function: Practically impossible to reverse
Common Hash Algorithms
MD5 (128-bit)
Fast but cryptographically broken. Suitable for checksums but not for security purposes.
SHA-1 (160-bit)
Deprecated for security use. Still common in legacy systems and version control.
SHA-256 (256-bit)
Strong cryptographic hash. Widely used in blockchain and digital signatures.
SHA-512 (512-bit)
Very strong hash function. Recommended for high-security applications.
Common Use Cases
File Integrity
Verify files haven't been tampered with by comparing hash values.
Password Storage
Store password hashes instead of plain text (with proper salting).
Digital Signatures
Hash data before signing for efficient digital signatures.
Quick Tips
- • Use SHA-256 or higher for security
- • MD5 is not cryptographically secure
- • Verify file downloads with hashes
- • Compare hashes case-insensitively
- • Different encodings affect hashes
- • Hash values are case-sensitive