Hash generator
MD5 and SHA for text or files
No database: AIMRAN doesn't store your files, text or results
What is Hash generator?
A hash is a kind of fingerprint for a text or a file: a short string that changes completely if a single character is modified. This tool calculates the most widely used hashes of whatever you type or any file you drag in.
It's useful for checking that a download isn't corrupted or tampered with: paste the checksum from the official website and the tool tells you whether it matches.
How to use it
- Choose “Text” or “File”.
- Type the text or drag in the file.
- Tick the algorithms you want to calculate.
- Paste a hash into “Compare with a hash” to verify it.
- Copy the result, in lowercase or uppercase.
Advantages
- Five algorithms at once: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512.
- Multi-GB files read in chunks, with a progress bar.
- Automatic comparison with the expected checksum.
- Free, no sign-up and no ads.
Technical details
SHA hashes (FIPS 180-4) are calculated with the Web Crypto API (crypto.subtle.digest) and MD5 (RFC 1321) with crypto-js; text is encoded as UTF-8 before hashing. Files are processed in a Web Worker in 4 MB chunks: up to 256 MB, Web Crypto is used for SHA and incremental MD5, and above that size all algorithms are calculated incrementally so the whole file isn't loaded into memory. Output is hexadecimal and can be shown in uppercase. Comparison ignores case and prefixes such as “SHA256:”. MD5 and SHA-1 shouldn't be used for security because of known collisions, but they remain valid for checking integrity against errors.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify the checksum of a downloaded file?
Drag in the file, paste the hash published on the official website into “Compare with a hash” and the tool will tell you whether it matches any of the calculated ones.
Can an MD5 hash be decrypted?
No. A hash is a one-way function. The only option is trying to guess the input by testing combinations, which is why weak passwords hashed with MD5 are insecure.
What's the difference between MD5 and SHA-256?
MD5 produces 128 bits and has known collisions. SHA-256 produces 256 bits and is considered secure today; it's the recommended one for verifying downloads and signatures.
Can I hash a large file?
Yes. The file is read in chunks, so it works for ISO images and multi-gigabyte files, showing progress.
What is the hash of an empty string?
With empty text the tool shows the hashes of the empty string; for example, the MD5 is d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e.
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