SHA-256 Hash Generator
Generate SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes of any text, in hex or Base64, and compare one with an expected value to check the text hasn’t changed.
Runs in your browser. Your data is not uploaded.How our tools work
Hashed as UTF-8, so every language and emoji works.
Paste a published SHA-256, SHA-384 or SHA-512 value to check the text matches it.
A hash is a one-way fingerprint, not encryption. A plain SHA hash isn’t a safe way to store passwords.
How do I generate a SHA-256 hash?
Type or paste text and its SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 hashes appear as you type, in hex or Base64, each with a Copy button. The text is encoded as UTF-8 first, so “abc” always gives the SHA-256 ba7816bf…f20015ad. Paste an expected hash to check whether the text matches it.
Key features
SHA-2 family
SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512, the widely used SHA-2 standard hashes, all at once.
Hex or Base64
Lowercase hexadecimal, or Base64 of the same bytes for APIs and configuration files.
Compare with an expected hash
Paste a published value and see straight away whether it matches, with spaces and capital letters in hex ignored.
Common uses
- Create a hash for an API signature or a test
- Learn how hash functions respond to small changes
Hashing is not encryption
A hash is a one-way fingerprint: the same text always gives the same hash, a tiny change gives a completely different one, and the hash can’t be turned back into the text. Encryption, by contrast, is meant to be reversed with a key.
A plain SHA-256 hash isn’t a safe way to store passwords, because fast hashes let attackers test billions of guesses a second. Password storage needs a slow, salted algorithm such as Argon2, scrypt or bcrypt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I get the same hash as another tool?
Check for differences in the input: a space or line break at the end, Windows line breaks (CRLF) in a file, or a different text encoding all change the hash. This tool hashes exactly the text in the box as UTF-8, with LF line breaks.
Can a hash be decrypted?
No. Hash functions are one-way. Short or common inputs can sometimes be found by guessing and comparing hashes, which is why hashes alone don’t keep secrets.
Why is there no MD5 or SHA-1?
Both are broken for security: different inputs with the same hash can be created. SHA-256 and the other SHA-2 hashes are the recommended choice.
Can I hash a file, such as a download?
No, this tool hashes text you type or paste. To check a downloaded file, use the command built into your computer: shasum -a 256 on a Mac, sha256sum on Linux, or certutil -hashfile followed by the file name and SHA256 on Windows (without SHA256 it gives a SHA-1 hash).
Sources
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