Hash Generator

Generate cryptographic hashes

About This Tool

Our hash generator creates cryptographic hashes using SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 algorithms from the secure SHA-2 family. Whether you need to verify file integrity, securely store passwords, generate digital signatures, or create unique data fingerprints, this free tool provides instant, cryptographically secure hashing using browser-native Web Crypto API.

What are Cryptographic Hashes?

Cryptographic hash functions are one-way mathematical algorithms that convert data of any size into a fixed-length string of characters called a hash or digest. These functions are deterministic (same input always produces the same output), irreversible (cannot calculate the original input from the hash), and collision-resistant (extremely unlikely for different inputs to produce the same hash). SHA-256 produces a 256-bit (64-character hex) hash, SHA-384 produces 384 bits (96 characters), and SHA-512 produces 512 bits (128 characters). These properties make hashes ideal for data verification, password storage, digital signatures, and blockchain applications.

Key Features

  • Multiple SHA-2 Algorithms: Generate SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 hashes simultaneously for flexibility
  • Web Crypto API: Uses browser's native crypto.subtle.digest for cryptographically secure hashing
  • Instant Generation: Create all three hash types from your input text with a single click
  • Individual Copy Buttons: Copy any hash variant independently for immediate use
  • Hexadecimal Output: Standard hex encoding for compatibility with all systems and programming languages
  • Complete Privacy: All hashing happens locally in your browser - input never sent to servers
  • No Limits: Generate unlimited hashes without registration, rate limits, or usage restrictions

Common Use Cases

Cryptographic hashes serve critical security and data integrity functions across software development and system administration.

  • Password Storage: Hash passwords before database storage (with salt) to protect user credentials from breaches
  • File Integrity Verification: Generate checksums to verify downloads haven't been corrupted or tampered with
  • Digital Signatures: Create message digests for cryptographic signing in authentication systems
  • Data Deduplication: Identify duplicate files by comparing hashes instead of entire file contents
  • Git Commit IDs: Understand how version control systems use SHA hashes to identify commits
  • Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: Generate hashes for block validation and transaction verification
  • Cache Keys: Create unique identifiers for cached data based on content rather than arbitrary IDs

How to Use

Generating cryptographic hashes is straightforward with instant results for multiple algorithms.

  1. Enter or paste the text you want to hash into the input text area
  2. Click "Generate Hashes" to instantly create SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 hashes
  3. Review all three hash outputs displayed in hexadecimal format
  4. Click the "Copy" button next to any hash to copy it to your clipboard
  5. Use the copied hash in your application, script, or verification process

Understanding SHA Algorithms

SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) is the most widely used secure hash function, offering excellent security for most applications including SSL certificates, Bitcoin mining, and password hashing. SHA-384 and SHA-512 provide longer hash values for applications requiring enhanced security margins or compatibility with specific security standards. All three are part of the SHA-2 family designed by the NSA and standardized by NIST. They are currently considered cryptographically secure with no known practical attacks. SHA-256 is generally recommended for new applications due to its balance of security and performance, while SHA-512 may be preferred for 64-bit systems or when future-proofing against quantum computing advances.

Hash Security Best Practices

Never use hashes alone for password storage - always add a unique salt (random data) to each password before hashing to prevent rainbow table attacks. Use purpose-built password hashing functions like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 for password storage rather than plain SHA hashes, as these include salting and are designed to be computationally expensive to resist brute force attacks. For file integrity, store hashes separately from the files themselves to prevent tampering. When comparing hashes, use timing-safe comparison functions to prevent timing attacks. Remember that hashes are one-way - you cannot reverse a hash to get the original data, making them perfect for verification but not for encryption where you need to recover the original data.

Technical Implementation

This tool uses the Web Crypto API's crypto.subtle.digest() method, which provides access to browser-native cryptographic hash functions. The implementation first encodes the input text to UTF-8 using TextEncoder, then passes it through the SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 digest algorithms. The resulting ArrayBuffer is converted to hexadecimal string representation for readability and compatibility. All processing occurs entirely client-side using JavaScript, ensuring your input data remains private and never leaves your browser. The Web Crypto API is supported in all modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.