Hash Generator
Generate SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 & SHA-512 hashes
About Hash Generator
SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm) is a family of cryptographic hash functions that produce a fixed-size digest from any input. SHA-256 and SHA-512 are the most widely used for file integrity verification, digital signatures, certificate generation and API authentication. This free SHA Hash Generator uses the browser's built-in Web Crypto API to compute SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes locally — nothing is ever sent to a server.
How to Use Hash Generator
- 1Type or paste any text into the input field.
- 2Click "Generate All Hashes" to compute SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 simultaneously.
- 3Each hash is shown with its algorithm name, bit length and a description.
- 4Click "Copy" next to any hash to copy it. Toggle UPPERCASE if needed.
Common Use Cases
SHA-256 is the industry standard for most security applications. SHA-1 is deprecated for security use. For passwords, use bcrypt or Argon2 — not plain SHA — as they are designed to be slow.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is SHA-256 and what is it used for?
SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) produces a fixed 64-character hexadecimal hash from any input. It is used for: verifying file download integrity, HTTPS/TLS certificate signing, Bitcoin and blockchain, API request signing (HMAC-SHA256), and as the foundation of digital signature systems.
What is the difference between SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512?
SHA-1 produces 40-character hashes and is now broken — collision attacks have been demonstrated, so never use it for security. SHA-256 produces 64-character hashes and is the current standard, recommended for all new applications. SHA-512 produces 128-character hashes and offers a higher security margin, but is slower on 32-bit systems.
Can SHA-256 hashes be reversed?
No. SHA-256 is a one-way function — it is computationally infeasible to reverse a hash back to its original input. However, short or common inputs can be found in precomputed rainbow tables. Always add a salt (random string) before hashing passwords to prevent rainbow table attacks.
Why should I use bcrypt for passwords instead of SHA-256?
SHA-256 is designed to be extremely fast — attackers can compute billions of SHA-256 hashes per second. bcrypt and Argon2 are intentionally slow password-hashing algorithms designed to make brute-force attacks impractical. For storing user passwords, always use bcrypt or Argon2, never plain SHA-256.