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Hash Generator: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and More

Hash Generator computes a checksum of text or a file in five common algorithms at once, useful for verifying a downloaded file matches its published checksum, or generating one yourself.

  1. 1Open the Hash Generator tool.
  2. 2Choose Text or File, then type/paste text or choose a file.
  3. 3All five hashes (MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512) appear instantly.
  4. 4Optionally paste a published hash into "Compare Against" to check it matches.
Open Hash Generator

Frequently asked questions

Which algorithm should I use?

Match whatever the source provides a checksum in; that's usually SHA-256 these days. MD5 and SHA-1 are still common for legacy checksums but are considered cryptographically broken for security purposes (though still fine for verifying accidental corruption, like a bad download).

Is my file uploaded to compute the hash?

No. The file is read and hashed entirely in your browser, using the Web Crypto API for SHA-1/256/384/512 and a local implementation for MD5 (since MD5 isn't available through Web Crypto). Nothing is sent to a server.

Can I use this to verify a download wasn't tampered with or corrupted?

Yes, that's the main use case. Hash the downloaded file and compare it against the checksum published by whoever distributed it (on their site, release notes, etc.). A match means the file is byte-for-byte identical to what they published.