MyWebUtils: Free Online Dev Tools

What is Hashing?

Hashing is the process of converting any given text or data into a fixed-size string of characters. This output, known as a "hash," is generated by a mathematical function called a hash algorithm (like SHA-256). Unlike encryption, hashing is a one-way process; you cannot reverse-engineer the original input from its hash.

Key Properties of Hashing

• Deterministic: The same input will always produce the exact same hash.
• Fixed-Length Output: A specific algorithm always produces a hash of the same length, regardless of the input's size.
• Avalanche Effect: A tiny change in the input data (even a single character) will produce a completely different hash.

Common Uses for Developers

• Data Integrity Verification: When you download a file, you'll often see a SHA-256 hash provided. You can run the downloaded file through a hash generator to ensure your hash matches the provider's. If they match, the file has not been corrupted or tampered with.
• Password Storage: Websites should never store user passwords in plain text. Instead, they store a hash of the password. When a user logs in, the site hashes their input and compares it to the stored hash.
• Blockchain Technology: Hashing is a cornerstone of cryptocurrencies, used to create a secure and unchangeable chain of transaction blocks.

Note on MD5: Our tool does not support MD5 because it is considered cryptographically broken and is no longer secure for most use cases, as different inputs can produce the same hash (known as a "collision").