Yes — SHA-256 has no known practical collision or preimage attacks and is widely used for checksums, digital signatures, and blockchain proof-of-work. It is a solid modern default.

Should I use SHA-256 for storing passwords?

No — for passwords use a purpose-built, slow algorithm like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2. A fast general-purpose hash like SHA-256 is too easy to brute-force for that specific job, even though it's secure for checksums.

Runs in your browser

SHA256 Generator

A focused SHA-256 hash generator using the browser's native Web Crypto API — no server round trip. SHA-256 is a good modern default for checksums and integrity verification.

Text

Or hash a file (processed locally, never uploaded)

Algorithm: SHA-256—

Digest will appear here

ReadySecurity & Cryptography ToolsFree · No account required⌘Ksearch all tools

Hash GeneratorGenerate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, or SHA-512 hashes.MD5 GeneratorGenerate an MD5 hash — for legacy compatibility, not security.

Features

Uses the browser's native Web Crypto API — fast and accurate
Hash text or a local file
Copy or download the resulting hex digest

How to use

Type or paste text, or select a file.
The SHA-256 digest appears automatically.
Copy or download it.

Example

"abc" → ba7816bf8f01cfea414140de5dae2223b00361a396177a9cb410ff61f20015ad

FAQ

Is SHA-256 secure?: Yes — SHA-256 has no known practical collision or preimage attacks and is widely used for checksums, digital signatures, and blockchain proof-of-work. It is a solid modern default.
Should I use SHA-256 for storing passwords?: No — for passwords use a purpose-built, slow algorithm like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2. A fast general-purpose hash like SHA-256 is too easy to brute-force for that specific job, even though it's secure for checksums.

SHA256 Generator

Related tools

Features

How to use

Example

FAQ