Hash Generator
Generate MD5 and SHA-256 hashes from text
Generate MD5 or SHA-256 hashes from any string, right in the browser. Handy for verifying file integrity, debugging API request signatures, or checking that a hash matches an expected value — without opening a terminal or writing a one-off script.
Input
Output
Hash will appear here…
How to use
- 1Enter a string — Text, password, file path — any string.
- 2Choose an algorithm — MD5 — shorter and faster, for deduplication. SHA-256 — more reliable, for signatures and verification.
- 3Copy the hash — The result appears instantly. The Copy button puts it on the clipboard.
Examples
MD5 hash of a URL for crawler deduplication
MD5(url) → key in Redis/DBCompute the URL hash — use it as a key in Redis to avoid crawling the same page twice.
MD5 for scraped data deduplication
MD5(title + url) → unique record keyFind duplicates in scraped data — compute a hash of a field combination and compare without string-by-string comparison.
File integrity verification
SHA-256(file) → compare with published hashConfirm a downloaded file is intact — compare SHA-256 against the published hash on the site.
SHA-256 for request body verification
SHA-256(request_body) → X-Content-HashCompute SHA-256 of a request body — some APIs verify data integrity through a hash in the header.
MD5 of a page for change detection
MD5(page_content) → checksumCompare page hashes between runs — if MD5 hasn't changed, skip parsing and save resources.
When to use for web scraping
In the scraping context, hashes are used for: deduplication of records (hash of key fields as identifier), data verification between runs, and checking integrity of files and API responses. Without this tool you'd need to run a Python/Node script or open a terminal. Here it's a quick MD5 or SHA-256 check right in the browser.
FAQ
MD5 or SHA-256 — which to choose?›
MD5 is faster and shorter (32 chars) but cryptographically outdated — don't use for security. SHA-256 is slower, longer (64 chars), reliable for security tasks. For deduplication and checksums — MD5 is enough.
Why did the hash change even though the text looks the same?›
Hash functions are sensitive to every byte: an extra space, a line break, or different casing gives a different hash. Check the string for invisible characters — trailing spaces, \r\n vs \n. Paste the string without extra characters — the hash will match.
How do I verify an API request body hash?›
Compute SHA-256 of the request body and compare it to the expected value from the header — some APIs verify data integrity this way.
Which algorithm should I choose for data integrity checks?›
For deduplication and change detection — MD5 is enough: faster and the 32-character key is convenient to store. For file verification or checking a hash from an external service — SHA-256: cryptographically reliable and widely used.
How do I use a hash for page change detection?›
Compute MD5 of the page content after each run and store it in a database. On the next run, compare the new hash to the stored one — if they match, the page hasn't changed and parsing can be skipped. This saves resources during regular crawling.