Hash functions are one-way mathematical functions that convert input data into a fixed-length string. They're fundamental to security, data integrity, and cryptography.
Quick Comparison
| Algorithm | Output Length | Speed | Security | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD5 | 128-bit | Fast | Broken | Checksums only |
| SHA-1 | 160-bit | Fast | Weak | Legacy systems |
| SHA-256 | 256-bit | Medium | Strong | General purpose |
| SHA-512 | 512-bit | Slower | Strong | High security |
When to Use Each
MD5
SHA-256
Bcrypt/Argon2
Important Security Notes
Try It Yourself
Generate hashes with our Hash Generator or create bcrypt hashes with our Bcrypt Generator.