Question 1

What is SHA-256?

Accepted Answer

SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) is part of the SHA-2 family. It produces a 256-bit (32-byte) hash value, rendered as a 64-character hexadecimal string.

Question 2

Is SHA-256 secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SHA-256 is currently considered secure and is widely used in TLS/SSL, Bitcoin, digital signatures, and certificate verification.

Question 3

What is the maximum file size supported?

Accepted Answer

This tool supports files up to 50 MB. The file is processed entirely in your browser using the Web Crypto API.

Question 4

Is my data sent to a server?

Accepted Answer

No. All hashing happens locally in your browser using the native Web Crypto API. Your data never leaves your device.

Question 5

SHA-256 vs MD5 — which should I use?

Accepted Answer

Use SHA-256 for any security-related purpose. MD5 is only suitable for non-security checksums due to known collision vulnerabilities.

Question 6

How fast is this tool?

Accepted Answer

It uses the browser's native Web Crypto API (crypto.subtle.digest), which is hardware-accelerated and very fast — typically under 100ms for text.

SHA-256 Hash Generator

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