Which hash algorithm should I use?

For security purposes, use SHA-256 or SHA-512. MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken and should not be used for security. MD5 is still useful for checksums and non-security purposes. SHA-256 is the current standard for most security applications.

Can I use this to hash passwords?

This tool generates raw hashes, which is NOT secure for passwords. For production password hashing, use specialized algorithms like bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 with proper salt and iteration counts. This tool is for learning, file integrity verification, or development/testing only.

What's the difference between MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512?

MD5 (128-bit): Fast but broken, use only for checksums. SHA-1 (160-bit): Deprecated, vulnerable to attacks. SHA-256 (256-bit): Current standard, secure. SHA-512 (512-bit): More secure but slower, use for high-security needs. For file integrity, SHA-256 is recommended.

Can I verify if two files are identical using hashes?

Yes! Generate hashes for both files using the same algorithm. If the hashes match, the files are identical (with extremely high probability). This is perfect for verifying downloads, detecting file corruption, or ensuring data integrity.

What's the maximum file size I can hash?

The practical limit is about 100MB per file, limited by browser memory. For best performance, keep files under 50MB. Very large files may cause browser slowdowns. For larger files, use command-line tools like md5sum or sha256sum.

Hash Generator - MD5 SHA - 256 Free

When to Use This Tool

Use this when:

You need to verify file integrity by comparing hashes (download verification)
You want to generate checksums for files to detect corruption or tampering
You're learning about cryptographic hashing and want to see how it works
You need to hash passwords for development/testing (use proper password hashing in production)
You're verifying that two files are identical by comparing their hashes
You need to generate hash values for API authentication or signatures
You want to create unique identifiers from text data using hashing

Don't use this if:

You need to hash passwords for production applications (use bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 with proper salt)
You require reversible encryption (hashing is one-way, use encryption algorithms instead)
You need to hash very large files (over 100MB) that may cause browser crashes
You require hash collision detection or advanced cryptographic analysis (use specialized tools)
You need to hash data streams or real-time data (use command-line tools or libraries)

What is a Hash Generator?

A hash generator computes cryptographic hash values (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512, and more) from text or file input. Our tool calculates all hashes entirely in your browser using the Web Crypto API — your data never leaves your device.

Cryptographic hashing is used for file integrity verification (confirming downloads weren't corrupted or tampered with), password hashing (never store plaintext passwords), data deduplication, digital signatures, and generating unique identifiers from content. Understanding hash functions is fundamental to software security.

This tool is essential for developers implementing authentication systems, system administrators verifying file downloads against published checksums, security professionals analyzing hash values, DevOps engineers generating configuration checksums, and forensic analysts verifying file integrity in investigations.

Compared to command-line tools like sha256sum (requires terminal access and varies by OS) or online hash generators that process your data on their servers, PureXio generates hashes instantly in-browser with zero network activity. The tool supports multiple algorithms simultaneously — compute MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 of the same input in one operation.

The tool accepts both text and file inputs, supports large files through streaming hash computation, and displays results in both hexadecimal and Base64 formats. It also includes a comparison mode to verify whether two hash values match.

Best for: generating MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-512 hashes from text or files. Multi-algorithm, file support, streaming computation. 100% browser-based.

How to Generate Hashes

Enter text or upload a file (up to 100MB) to generate its hash

Select hash algorithm (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, or SHA-512)

Copy the generated hash value for comparison or use in your applications

Common Use Cases

Verify downloaded software installer by comparing hash with published checksum (SHA-256)

Generate MD5 checksum for file to detect corruption during transfer

Hash password for development/testing (remember: use proper password hashing in production, not MD5/SHA256 alone)

Verify two files are identical by comparing their SHA-256 hashes

Generate hash for API authentication token or signature verification (SHA256 hash of 64-character token)

Create unique identifier from text data using SHA-256 hashing

Verify file integrity after backup or transfer by comparing hashes (SHA256 hash of 10MB file)

Features

Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hashes

Hash text input or uploaded files

SHA-256 recommended for security (MD5 and SHA-1 are deprecated)

Process files up to 100MB (limited by browser memory)

100% private—all hashing happens in your browser

No registration or file uploads to servers

Instant hash generation with copy-to-clipboard

Limitations & Constraints

Maximum file size: 100MB (browser memory limit). For larger files, use command-line tools.

Not for production password hashing: Use bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 with proper salt.

MD5 and SHA-1 are cryptographically broken: Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for security.

One-way only: Hashes cannot be reversed to original data (by design).

No salt support: This tool generates raw hashes. For passwords, use proper hashing libraries with salt.

Troubleshooting

Hash generation fails or browser becomes slow

Solution: Large files (over 50MB) can cause browser performance issues. Try hashing smaller files first, or use command-line tools for large files. Close other browser tabs to free up memory. Very large files may exceed browser memory limits. Prevention: Keep files under 50MB for reliable browser-based hashing.

Generated hash doesn't match expected value

Solution: Ensure you're using the same hash algorithm (MD5 vs SHA-256 produce different hashes). Check that the input text or file is exactly the same (no extra spaces, different line endings, etc.). Some systems use different text encodings—ensure encoding matches. Prevention: Use the same algorithm and verify input is identical.

File hash takes too long to generate

Solution: Large files take longer to hash. SHA-512 is slower than SHA-256. Very large files (over 30MB) may take 10-30 seconds. If it's been more than 2 minutes, the file may be too large—try a smaller file or use command-line tools. Prevention: Keep files under 30MB for faster hashing.

Hash value looks different from what I expected

Solution: Different hash algorithms produce different outputs. MD5 is 32 hex characters, SHA-1 is 40, SHA-256 is 64, SHA-512 is 128. Ensure you're comparing hashes from the same algorithm. Some systems display hashes in uppercase, others lowercase—both are valid. Prevention: Always specify which algorithm you're using when comparing hashes.

Can't hash password securely with this tool

Solution: This tool generates raw hashes, which is NOT secure for passwords. For production, use proper password hashing: bcrypt, Argon2, or PBKDF2 with salt and high iteration counts. Never use MD5 or SHA-1 for passwords. Use password hashing libraries in your programming language. Prevention: Understand that raw hashing is not password hashing. Use proper password hashing libraries.