SHA-256 Generator

Generate secure SHA-256 hashes for text and files

SHA-256 Hash Generator

SHA-256 Hash Generator Tool

Generate cryptographically secure SHA-256 hashes for text and files. SHA-256 is part of the SHA-2 family and produces a 256-bit hash value. It's widely used in security applications, blockchain technology, SSL certificates, and digital signatures.

Supports both text and file inputs with instant hash generation. Uses the Web Crypto API for cryptographically secure hashing, includes verification features to compare hashes, and provides results in standard hexadecimal format. Perfect for password hashing, data integrity checks, and security applications.

Essential for verifying file downloads, creating secure checksums, blockchain applications, digital signatures, SSL/TLS certificate generation, password storage systems, and any security-critical application requiring collision-resistant hashing.

Cryptographically secure and collision-resistant, fast processing with the native Web Crypto API, complete privacy with browser-based processing, supports files up to 10MB, includes hash comparison for verification, and suitable for production security applications.

Key Features

  • Cryptographically secure SHA-256 hashing
  • Text and file input support
  • Web Crypto API for maximum security
  • Hash verification and comparison
  • 256-bit hash output in hexadecimal
  • File uploads up to 10MB
  • Copy hash to clipboard
  • Browser-based (no server uploads)
  • Suitable for security applications
  • Free and unlimited use

SHA-256 Generator FAQ

Is SHA-256 secure for password storage?

SHA-256 alone is not recommended for password storage because it's too fast, making brute-force attacks easier. For passwords, use bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 which are designed for password hashing with built-in salting and computational cost.

What's the difference between SHA-256 and MD5?

SHA-256 is cryptographically secure and produces a 256-bit hash (64 hex characters), while MD5 produces a 128-bit hash (32 hex characters) and is vulnerable to collisions. SHA-256 is suitable for security applications, while MD5 is not.

Can SHA-256 be decrypted or reversed?

No. SHA-256 is a one-way hash function, meaning it cannot be reversed or decrypted. The only way to find the original input is through brute force, which is computationally infeasible for strong inputs.

What is SHA-256 used for?

SHA-256 is used in digital signatures, SSL/TLS certificates, blockchain technology (Bitcoin mining), file integrity verification, secure checksums, and any application requiring cryptographically secure hashing.

How long is a SHA-256 hash?

A SHA-256 hash is 256 bits (32 bytes) long and is typically displayed as 64 hexadecimal characters. This length provides excellent collision resistance and security.

Pro Tips

  • SHA-256 is suitable for most security applications
  • Always verify file downloads by comparing SHA-256 hashes
  • Use SHA-256 for digital signatures and certificates
  • For passwords, add salt and use a dedicated password hashing algorithm
  • SHA-256 is faster than SHA-512 while remaining secure

Related Tools

Other tools that might be useful for your workflow