What is a hash generator used for?

A hash generator converts text or a file into a fixed-length string (a hash) that uniquely represents its content. It's commonly used to verify file integrity, detect duplicate files, and confirm that a download hasn't been corrupted or tampered with.

Which hash algorithm should I use?

SHA-256 is the best general-purpose choice today for integrity checks and is widely used in software distribution. MD5 and SHA-1 are still common for quick checksums but are considered cryptographically broken for security purposes.

Is my data uploaded to a server?

No. All hashing happens entirely in your browser using the Web Crypto API and JavaScript. Your text and files never leave your device.

Can I reverse a hash back to the original text?

No. Hash functions are one-way — there is no way to mathematically reverse a hash back into the original text or file. That's exactly what makes them useful for verification: you compare hashes, you don't decode them.

How large a file can I hash?

This tool accepts files up to 200MB. Larger files may take a few seconds to process since hashing happens on your device rather than a server.

Why shouldn't I use MD5 for passwords?

MD5 (and SHA-1) can be computed extremely quickly with modern hardware, making them vulnerable to brute-force and collision attacks. Passwords should use a slow, salted algorithm like bcrypt or Argon2 — never a raw hash of MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, or SHA-512.