MD5 Hash Generator
Generate MD5 hash from text strings for data integrity verification and checksums.
How to Use the MD5 Hash Generator?
Enter any text string to generate its MD5 hash. The MD5 hash is a 128-bit (32 character) fingerprint of your input.
What is MD5?
MD5 (Message-Digest Algorithm 5) is a widely used cryptographic hash function that produces a 128-bit (16-byte) hash value, typically expressed as a 32-character hexadecimal number. It was designed by Ronald Rivest in 1991.
Key Features of MD5
- Fixed Output: Always produces a 32-character hexadecimal string
- One-way Function: Computationally infeasible to reverse
- Deterministic: Same input always produces the same hash
- Fast Computation: Quick to calculate for any input size
- Avalanche Effect: Small input changes result in dramatically different hashes
Common Use Cases
- Data Integrity: Verify file integrity and detect corruption
- Checksums: Compare file versions and downloads
- Password Storage: Store password hashes (though not recommended for new applications)
- Digital Signatures: Part of digital signature algorithms
- Caching: Generate cache keys from content
- Database Indexing: Create unique identifiers
MD5 Examples
| Input | MD5 Hash |
|---|---|
| hello | 5d41402abc4b2a76b9719d911017c592 |
| Hello | 8b1a9953c4611296a827abf8c47804d7 |
| (empty string) | d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e |
| 123456 | e10adc3949ba59abbe56e057f20f883e |
Security Considerations
Important Security Notice: MD5 is no longer considered cryptographically secure for most applications.
- Collision Vulnerabilities: It's possible to find different inputs that produce the same hash
- Not Suitable for Passwords: Use bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 for password hashing
- Not for Digital Signatures: Use SHA-256 or higher for cryptographic applications
- Still Useful for: Checksums, non-cryptographic purposes, and legacy systems
Better Alternatives
- SHA-256: Part of the SHA-2 family, more secure
- SHA-3: Latest standard, highly secure
- BLAKE2: Faster than MD5 and more secure
- For Passwords: bcrypt, scrypt, Argon2
MD5 Properties
- Input: Any size (0 to 2^64 - 1 bits)
- Output: Always 128 bits (32 hex characters)
- Speed: Very fast computation
- Collision Resistance: Compromised (not recommended for security)
- Preimage Resistance: Still considered secure