A hash function turns any input — a word, a file, a password — into a fixed-length string of characters called a digest. The same input always produces the same hash, but you cannot reverse a hash back to the input. To generate a hash, paste text into a hash generator and read the MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 or SHA-512 output. This guide explains the difference between them and when to use each.
Type or paste the text you want to hash into the tool.
MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 are computed live as you type.
Copy the hash you need — SHA-256 is the safe default for most uses.
Switch between lowercase and uppercase hex to match your system.
What is the difference between MD5 and SHA?
MD5 (128-bit) and SHA-1 (160-bit) are older and broken for security — attackers can craft collisions — so they should only be used for non-security checksums and legacy compatibility. SHA-256 and SHA-512 (the SHA-2 family) are current and secure. The hash generator shows all four so you can compare.
Which hash should I use?
Use SHA-256 as the default for fingerprints, integrity checks and signatures. Use MD5 only for fast non-security checksums (like detecting accidental file changes). For passwords, do not use a plain hash at all — use a slow password hash such as bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2 with a salt.
Is hashing the same as encryption?
No. Encryption is reversible with a key; hashing is one-way by design. Hashing verifies integrity and fingerprints data, while encryption protects confidentiality. If you only need to safely represent bytes as text, that’s Base64, not hashing. Explore more in the developer tools.
Tip: To verify a downloaded file, hash it and compare the digest to the one the publisher lists — if they match, the file wasn’t corrupted or tampered with.
Generate a hash now
Get MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 of any text, live — free, in your browser.
Open the Hash Generator →Frequently Asked Questions
What is hashing?
A one-way function that turns any input into a fixed-length digest. The same input always gives the same hash, and you cannot reverse it.
Is MD5 secure?
No. MD5 and SHA-1 are broken for security uses. Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 instead; use MD5 only for non-security checksums.
Which hash is best for passwords?
None of these — use a dedicated slow password hash like bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2 with a unique salt per user.
Is my text uploaded to hash it?
No — hashes are computed in your browser, so your input never leaves your device.