What is a hash function?

A hash function takes any input and produces a fixed-length output string. The same input always produces the same hash, but you cannot reverse the hash to recover the input. This one-way property is what makes hashing useful for security.

What is the difference between SHA-256 and MD5?

SHA-256 produces a 256-bit (64-character) hash and is cryptographically secure. MD5 produces a 128-bit (32-character) hash but is broken — collisions can be manufactured. Use SHA-256 for security; MD5 only for non-security checksums.

Is hashing the same as encryption?

No. Hashing is one-way — you can't recover the original data from a hash. Encryption is two-way — encrypted data can be decrypted with the correct key. Use hashing for password storage and integrity checks; use encryption for data that needs to be read later.

How to Generate SHA-256 and MD5 Hashes

🔒

Try Hash Generator

Free, no signup →