Key takeaways
- A hash turns any text into a fixed-length string — the same input always produces the same hash.
- MD5 is fast but cryptographically broken; don't use it to protect anything sensitive, like passwords.
- SHA-256 is the current standard for security-relevant hashing (checksums, password storage with proper salting, data integrity checks).
- Text to Hash generates both instantly from any text you paste in, entirely in your browser.
What actually differs between them
Both MD5 and SHA-256 take an input and produce a fixed-size fingerprint of it. The difference is collision resistance — how hard it is to find two different inputs that produce the same hash. MD5's collision resistance was broken years ago, meaning it's unsuitable anywhere security matters, even though it's still common for quick, non-security checksums (verifying a file downloaded correctly, for instance).
SHA-256 doesn't have that weakness and is the standard choice when a hash needs to actually resist tampering — verifying file integrity for security purposes, or as one ingredient in password hashing (alongside proper salting, which this tool doesn't do on its own).
Generating a hash
Open Text to Hash, paste or type your text, and both the MD5 and SHA-256 results appear instantly — useful for comparing a file's reported checksum, or generating one for your own data.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hash a password here and store it in my database?
This tool hashes plain text for general use — for real password storage, use a purpose-built algorithm like bcrypt or Argon2, which add salting and are deliberately slow to resist brute-force attacks. A raw SHA-256 hash alone isn't the right tool for that specific job.
Is my text sent anywhere to generate the hash?
No — the hashing runs in your browser using the Web Crypto API.