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SHA Hash Generator

Online SHA hash generator supporting SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512 algorithms

Understanding SHA Algorithms

Secure Hash Algorithms (SHA) are a family of cryptographic hash functions published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a U.S. Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS). They are designed to take an input of any length and produce a fixed-size string of characters, which typically looks like a random sequence of numbers and letters.

Key Characteristics

• One-way Encryption: It is computationally infeasible to reverse the hash to get the original data.
• Deterministic: The same input will always produce the exact same hash output.
• Avalanche Effect: A tiny change in the input (e.g., changing one letter) changes the entire hash.
• Collision Resistance: It is extremely unlikely to find two different inputs that produce the same hash.

Supported Standards

SHA-1: Produces a 160-bit (40 hex chars) hash. Deprecated for security use due to collision vulnerabilities, but still widely used for checksums.

SHA-256: The industry standard. Produces a 256-bit (64 hex chars) hash. Used in Bitcoin, SSL certificates, and file integrity verification.

SHA-384: A truncated version of SHA-512. Produces a 384-bit (96 hex chars) hash. Offers a middle ground for specific security requirements.

SHA-512: Produces a 512-bit (128 hex chars) hash. More secure than SHA-256 and often faster on 64-bit processors.

Looking for Keccak or SHA-3? Use our SHA-3 Generator

Common Use Cases

Security Note

SHA-1 has been proven vulnerable to collision attacks and should not be used for security-sensitive scenarios. SHA-256 or higher is recommended. For password storage, use dedicated password hashing algorithms like bcrypt or Argon2.

References

SHA FAQ

What is the difference between SHA-1 and SHA-256?

The main difference is the length of the hash and security level. SHA-1 produces a 160-bit hash and is considered insecure against well-funded attackers. SHA-256 produces a 256-bit hash and is currently considered secure for all applications, including banking and military use.

Is my file uploaded to your server?

No. This tool runs entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. Your files are processed locally on your device and are never transmitted over the internet, ensuring complete privacy.

Can I decrypt a SHA hash back to the original text?

No. SHA is a cryptographic hash function, not an encryption algorithm. It is a one-way process. You cannot 'decrypt' a hash. To verify data, you must hash the input again and compare the result.

Why is SHA-512 sometimes faster than SHA-256?

SHA-512 is optimized for 64-bit processors, which can process 64-bit words in a single operation. SHA-256 operates on 32-bit words. On modern 64-bit CPUs, SHA-512 can calculate hashes slightly faster for large data sets.

Should I use text or hex input mode?

Use 'Text' for normal strings like passwords or messages. Use 'Hex' if you have binary data represented as hexadecimal strings (e.g., '48656c6c6f'). The output will be different because the input bytes are interpreted differently.

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