Hash Generator
Choose an algorithm, then type or paste text — the hash updates as you type.
What this tool does
This tool computes a cryptographic hash of your text using the SHA family of algorithms — SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, or SHA-512 — via your browser's built-in Web Crypto API, the same engine used for HTTPS and other browser security features. A hash is a fixed-length string of hex characters derived deterministically from the input: the same text always produces the same hash, but even a one-character change produces a completely different result, and there's no way to recover the original text from the hash alone. Everything is computed locally; the text you type is never sent anywhere.
Example use case
Developers use hashes to verify a downloaded file or a string wasn't corrupted or tampered with, by comparing a computed hash against a published checksum. Hashes are also used to store a proof of some data (like a password, in a real system with proper salting) without storing the data itself, or as a compact fingerprint for detecting duplicate content.
Which algorithm to use
SHA-1 is fast but considered cryptographically broken for security purposes — it's still around for legacy compatibility, such as verifying old file checksums, but shouldn't be used for anything security-sensitive today. SHA-256 is the modern default for most use cases, striking a good balance of security and hash length, while SHA-384 and SHA-512 offer a larger security margin at the cost of a longer output.