BLAKE Hash Generator
Generate BLAKE2 and BLAKE3 hashes for text and files
About BLAKE Hash Functions
What is BLAKE?
BLAKE is a family of cryptographic hash functions that was one of the five finalists in the NIST hash function competition. BLAKE2 is an improved version that is faster than MD5, SHA-1, SHA-2, and SHA-3 while providing at least as much security. BLAKE3 is the latest member of the family, offering even better performance through parallelism.
BLAKE2 Overview
BLAKE2 comes in two main variants: BLAKE2b (optimized for 64-bit platforms) and BLAKE2s (optimized for 8 to 32-bit platforms). Both variants support keyed hashing, personalized hashing, and parallel hashing modes.
BLAKE3 Overview
BLAKE3 is a single algorithm that combines the best features of BLAKE2, while also providing tree hashing and extendable output functionality. It's designed to be highly parallel and is significantly faster than BLAKE2.
Key Features
- Speed: BLAKE2 is faster than MD5 and SHA families on modern CPUs; BLAKE3 is even faster
- Security: Provides 256-bit security (BLAKE2b-512, BLAKE3)
- Flexibility: Variable output length, optional keying, and personalization
- Parallelism: BLAKE3 can utilize multiple CPU cores for large inputs
Common Use Cases
- File integrity verification
- Password hashing (with appropriate key derivation)
- Digital signatures and certificates
- Content addressing in distributed systems
- Random number generation
Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Output Size | Platform | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLAKE2b | 1-64 bytes | 64-bit | Fast |
| BLAKE2s | 1-32 bytes | 32-bit | Fast |
| BLAKE3 | Variable | All | Fastest |
FAQ
Is BLAKE3 more secure than BLAKE2?
BLAKE3 and BLAKE2 both provide strong security guarantees. BLAKE3's main advantages are speed and simplicity, not necessarily improved security over BLAKE2.
Should I use BLAKE2b or BLAKE2s?
Use BLAKE2b on 64-bit systems for best performance. Use BLAKE2s on embedded or 32-bit systems where memory and performance constraints apply.
Can I use BLAKE for password hashing?
While BLAKE is a secure hash function, for password hashing you should use specialized algorithms like Argon2, bcrypt, or scrypt that are designed to be slow and memory-hard.