Question 1

What is a cryptographic hash?

Accepted Answer

A cryptographic hash is a fixed-length fingerprint of data. The same input always produces the same hash, but even a tiny change to the input produces a completely different hash. Hashes are one-way — you cannot reverse a hash to recover the original input.

Question 2

Which SHA algorithm should I use?

Accepted Answer

SHA-256 is the most widely used and recommended for general purposes (password storage, checksums, digital signatures). SHA-512 offers a larger output and may be faster on 64-bit systems. SHA-1 is considered weak for security-sensitive applications and should be avoided for new work.

Hash Generator