# Hash Generator

> Free hash generator. Compute MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 checksums of text instantly in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Compute MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 digests of any text instantly. Type and all five hashes update live, entirely in your browser.

*Interactive tool: enter your values at https://toollantern.win/hash-generator/ and results update instantly in your browser.*

## What the tool does

A hash function turns any input into a fixed-length fingerprint. This tool computes five of them at once: MD5 (128-bit), SHA-1 (160-bit), SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512. Hashes update as you type.

## Worked example

The text **hello** gives MD5 5d41402abc4b2a76b9719d911017c592 and SHA-256 2cf24dba5fb0a30e26e83b2ac5b9e29e1b161e5c1fa7425e73043362938b9824. Change one letter and every hash changes completely: that avalanche effect is what makes hashes useful for integrity checks.

## Which to use

Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for anything security-related. MD5 and SHA-1 are broken for collision resistance and are included only for checksums against legacy systems.

## Frequently asked questions
### What is a hash used for?

Verifying file integrity (compare checksums), storing password fingerprints, deduplicating data, and fingerprinting content in caches and Git.

### Is MD5 secure?

No. MD5 and SHA-1 both have practical collision attacks. Use them only for non-security checksums, like verifying a download against a published value. For security, use SHA-256 or SHA-512.

### Can a hash be reversed?

No, hash functions are one-way. The only way to find an input is brute force: trying candidates until one produces the same hash.

### Is my text sent to a server?

No. All five digests are computed locally in your browser, so sensitive strings never leave your device.

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Interactive version: https://toollantern.win/hash-generator/