How to generate a hash
- Type or paste text, or switch to File and choose a file.
- MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes are calculated instantly.
- To check a download, paste the checksum published by the website into Verify a checksum. The matching row turns green.
Text is hashed as UTF-8, the same way most programming languages and command-line tools do it, so the results match sha256sum, md5sum and Get-FileHash.
What is a hash?
A hash function turns any amount of data into a short, fixed-length fingerprint. The same input always gives the same hash, and changing even one character gives a completely different one. Hashes are used to verify that files were not corrupted or tampered with, to detect duplicate files, and as building blocks in digital signatures.
Which algorithm should I use?
- SHA-256 – the modern default for checksums and security.
- SHA-384 / SHA-512 – longer variants of SHA-2, also secure.
- MD5 and SHA-1 – fine for detecting accidental corruption, but broken for security: attackers can create different files with the same hash.
FAQ
Can I use these hashes to store passwords?
No. Plain hashes are far too fast to compute, so stolen password hashes can be guessed quickly. Use a dedicated password hashing algorithm such as Argon2, bcrypt or scrypt.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Files are hashed inside your browser and never leave your device, so you can safely check large or private files.