Hash Generator for MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512
The Hash Generator calculates MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 for text or a file at the same time, in Hex or Base64. For example, ZAP-Hosting produces the SHA-256 hash 1cd8d762eb2a7a79…. Compare checksums to see immediately whether a server download or plugin has changed. Everything runs entirely in your browser.
Built by Luca Stanek
Checking checksums is part of everyday server work. On a VPS, you can check them directly with sha256sum.
0 characters, 0 bytes (UTF-8)
This is also how echo text | sha256sum works: echo appends a newline, so the hash differs from that of the text alone.
Hashes
Enter text to see MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 here.
Paste the hash from the download page or the output of sha256sum. The algorithm is detected by its length.
Example result
What results look like in the Hash Generator
Enter text or choose a file, and the tool instantly generates all four hashes. The example below uses fixed sample text; your hashes depend on your input.
Example · Text without a line break, output in hex
Input
- Text
- ZAP-Hosting
- 11 characters, exactly 11 bytes in UTF-8. Even one extra space produces completely different hashes.
Output
- MD5
- b8b6e1520117d24a5a5351c89edc9db0
- 128 bits, 32 hex characters
- SHA-1
- ad49005c79b06813d236b195f1188cd1e9709eaa
- 160 bits, 40 hex characters
- SHA-256
- 1cd8d762eb2a7a7969893c0174221ee4a31f6b37130b570949d5f1751a4c1671
- 256 bits, 64 hex characters
- SHA-512
- 9ecee2b79b9a4323acf0ebf33dce6ac44ba23b32269ddc30918ff1d76120b121643f656b25879b6d4b68ecafb6d0c9c99c8c20abc00c6da3c44f7a4e6c572e31
- 512 bits, 128 hex characters
Features
Everything you need for hashes and checksums
From short text to large server downloads: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 in one tool.
Four algorithms at once
MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 are calculated at the same time, so you don’t need to switch algorithms.
Large files too
Files are read in 4 MiB chunks, with a progress indicator and a Cancel button.
Checksum comparison
Paste the expected hash. The algorithm is identified by its length, and matches are highlighted.
Hex, uppercase HEX, or Base64
Output in the format of your source, with every value copyable in one click.
Just like on the command line
Text is hashed as UTF-8, optionally with a newline as with echo. This makes the values match sha256sum.
Only in your browser
No uploads, no storage. Even confidential files stay on your device.
Guide
Calculate a hash in three steps
Use the Hash Generator to turn text or a file into a verified checksum.
Step 1
Choose text or a file
Choose “Text” or “File” above. Enter text or drag a file into the field, such as a server download or plugin. To get the same value as echo text | sha256sum, enable “Append newline”.
Step 2
View and copy hashes
MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 appear at the same time. Choose hex, uppercase HEX, or Base64, and copy a value with one click.
Step 3
Compare checksum
Paste the expected hash or the output of sha256sum. The tool detects the algorithm from the length and shows whether the checksum matches.
Algorithms
MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 compared
All four are fixed-length one-way functions. They differ in length and in whether they are still considered secure today.
MD5
128 bits, 32 hex characters
Broken: collisions can be deliberately generated.
Only useful as a checksum for accidental errors, such as on older download pages and in Mod archives.
SHA-1
160 bits, 40 hex characters
Broken: the first practical collision was published in 2017.
For legacy checksums and Git object IDs; don't use for new signatures.
SHA-256
256 bits, 64 hex characters
Secure; standard for downloads, Docker images, and certificates.
Recommended for new checksums of server downloads, plugins, and Backups.
SHA-512
512 bits, 128 hex characters
Secure; often faster than SHA-256 on 64-bit processors.
Long checksums, integrity attributes (SRI), and Linux images.
On the server
Check a checksum with a command
Run these commands on your server or computer to generate the same hashes as the tool. You can paste the output into “Compare checksum” above.
Linux
sha256sum server.zip sha512sum server.zip md5sum server.zip
Windows (PowerShell)
Get-FileHash server.zip -Algorithm SHA256 certutil -hashfile server.zip SHA256
macOS
shasum -a 256 server.zip shasum -a 512 server.zip md5 server.zip
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the Hash Generator
Quick answers about hashes, checksums, and privacy.
A hash is a fixed-length digital fingerprint: changing even one character produces a completely different value. The Hash Generator calculates four at once: MD5 with 32, SHA-1 with 40, SHA-256 with 64, and SHA-512 with 128 hexadecimal characters. For the text ZAP-Hosting, the MD5 hash is b8b6e1520117d24a5a5351c89edc9db0 and the SHA-256 hash is 1cd8d762eb2a7a7969893c0174221ee4a31f6b37130b570949d5f1751a4c1671, for example. You can also display the values in uppercase or Base64.
Switch to “File” and select the downloaded file. Then paste the hash from the download page under “Compare checksum”. The tool detects the algorithm from the length and tells you whether the checksum matches. You can also paste output from sha256sum, md5sum, shasum, certutil, or Get-FileHash directly, as well as prefixed values such as sha256: or sha512- from SRI attributes.
No. Text and files are read and hashed only in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server, stored, or added to the URL. You can therefore check large or confidential files too.
Usually because of a line break: echo text | sha256sum appends a newline to the text. Turn on “Append newline” in the tool, and the values will match. Trailing spaces and Windows line breaks also change the hash completely.
Use SHA-256 for new checksums, or SHA-512 for very long ones. MD5 and SHA-1 are considered broken because targeted collisions can be created; they are no longer suitable for signatures or passwords. They can still detect accidental transfer errors, which is why you'll find them on many download pages.
No. A hash is a one-way function; you can’t reconstruct the text from the result. So-called MD5 decryptors only look up known values in large lists. Neither MD5 nor SHA-256 should be used to store passwords; use salted bcrypt instead.
The tool has no fixed file size limit. It reads the file in 4 MiB chunks and shows progress, so it never needs to load the entire file into memory. How long it takes depends on the file size and your device. While the file is being read, you can stop it with “Cancel”.
Both are the same hash, just written differently. Hex uses the characters 0 to 9 and a to f; that’s how sha256sum and most download pages display it. Base64 is shorter and is used, for example, in HTML integrity attributes (SRI) and some APIs. The comparison recognizes both formats.
Any more questions?
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