SHA-256 Hash Generator
Generate SHA-256 hashes from text or files. Includes file hashing, HMAC generation, and checksum verification.
What is SHA-256 Hashing?
SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) produces a 256-bit (64-character hex) hash from any input. Part of the SHA-2 family designed by the NSA, SHA-256 is used in TLS certificates, Bitcoin mining, password hashing, and digital signatures. It is currently considered cryptographically secure with no known practical attacks.
Common Use Cases
- •Verifying file integrity with secure checksums
- •Computing content hashes for subresource integrity (SRI)
- •Generating HMAC-SHA256 signatures for API authentication
- •Creating content-addressable storage keys
- •Blockchain and cryptocurrency applications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SHA-256 and SHA-512?
SHA-256 produces a 256-bit hash (64 hex chars) and SHA-512 produces a 512-bit hash (128 hex chars). SHA-512 is actually faster on 64-bit systems. Both are considered equally secure for current applications.
Should I use SHA-256 for password hashing?
Plain SHA-256 is too fast for password hashing — use bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 instead. These are deliberately slow to make brute-force attacks impractical. SHA-256 is designed for speed, which is a disadvantage for password storage.