# Hash generator (SHA-256, MD5)

> Hash text or a file with SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, SHA-1 and MD5 at once, and check it against an expected checksum. In your browser, nothing uploaded.

URL: https://tools.cuelark.com/hash-generator
Publisher: Cuelark Team (https://cuelark.com)
Updated: 2026-11-10
Price: free, no sign-up
Privacy: runs in the browser; files are not uploaded

Type text or drop a text file to get its SHA-256, SHA-512, SHA-384, SHA-1 and MD5 hashes in hex, and paste an expected hash to check it matches.

## How to use it

1. Type or paste the text, or drop a text file.
2. Pick one algorithm or show them all.
3. Paste an expected checksum to compare, then copy or download the hashes.

## Details

- **Algorithms:** SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, SHA-1 (Web Crypto), MD5
- **Input:** UTF-8 bytes of the text exactly as typed, including spaces and line breaks
- **Output:** Lowercase hex

## Questions

### Why doesn't my hash match the one from the command line?

Usually a trailing newline: `echo hello | sha256sum` hashes 'hello\n'. Use `echo -n` or `printf`, or add the line break here. Windows line endings (\r\n) also change the hash.

### Is MD5 safe?

Not for security: collisions can be made on purpose. MD5 and SHA-1 are still fine for spotting accidental corruption; use SHA-256 for anything that matters.

### Can I hash passwords with this?

Don't store passwords as SHA or MD5 hashes; they're too fast to brute-force. Use bcrypt, scrypt or Argon2 with a salt.

### Can I hash a binary file like an .iso?

This page hashes text. Dropped files are read as text, so binary files won't give the right checksum; use `sha256sum` or `Get-FileHash` for those.

### Is my input sent anywhere?

No. It is processed by code running in this tab. Nothing is uploaded, logged or saved; tokens, hashes and text are never put in the page address.

### Can an AI agent use this?

Yes. The same function is a tool on our free MCP server at tools.cuelark.com/mcp, so ChatGPT, Claude or Cursor get exactly the answer this page shows. 'Copy MCP call' gives you the arguments.

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