What Are Hash Functions?

A cryptographic hash function takes an input and returns a fixed-size string of characters. The same input always produces the same hash, but even a tiny change in input produces a completely different output.

Supported Algorithms

MD5: 128-bit hash. Fast but no longer considered secure for cryptographic purposes.
SHA-1: 160-bit hash. Deprecated for security use but still common in checksums.
SHA-256: 256-bit hash from the SHA-2 family. Widely used and recommended.
SHA-512: 512-bit hash from the SHA-2 family. Higher security for sensitive applications.

Common Use Cases

File integrity verification (checksums)
Data deduplication
Digital signatures
Password storage (with proper salting)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hashing the same as encryption?

No. Hashing is a one-way function — you cannot reverse a hash to get the original input. Encryption is two-way and can be reversed with a key.

Are the hashes computed locally?

Yes. All hashing is done in your browser using the Web Crypto API. No data is sent to any server.