SHA Hash Generator

What this does

A cryptographic hash turns any input into a fixed-length fingerprint. The same input always produces the same hash, and changing even one character produces a completely different one, which is why hashes are used to check that a downloaded file is intact or that two pieces of data are identical.

This tool uses the Web Crypto API built into your browser, so the hashes come from a standard, audited implementation rather than a script written for this page.

How to use it

1. Type or paste text. The text is converted to UTF-8 bytes before hashing.
2. Read the hashes for each algorithm, shown in hexadecimal, and copy the one you need.

Where it stops being right

• MD5 is not offered: browsers' Web Crypto API does not include it, and it is broken for security purposes.
• SHA-1 is included only for compatibility with older systems. Practical collisions have been demonstrated, so do not use it to protect anything.
• A plain hash is not a safe way to store passwords. Password storage needs a slow, salted algorithm such as bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2.

Questions

Can a hash be reversed to get the original text?

Not directly — hashing is one-way. Short or common inputs can still be found by guessing, which is why passwords need salted, deliberately slow hashing instead.

Why does my hash differ from another tool's?

Usually because of invisible differences in the input: a trailing newline, a different line ending, or a different text encoding.

Which algorithm should I use?

SHA-256 is the common default for integrity checks. Use whatever the system you are matching against expects.