MD5 (Message Digest 5) is a cryptographic hash function that produces a 32-character hexadecimal string from any input. It was once used for password storage but is now considered broken for security purposes due to collision vulnerabilities. It is still used for file checksums and non-security purposes.

SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) is part of the SHA-2 family. It produces a 64-character hexadecimal hash and is currently considered secure for data integrity, digital signatures, TLS certificates, and blockchain. It is not suitable for password storage by itself — use bcrypt or Argon2 instead.

What is bcrypt and why should I use it for passwords?

bcrypt is a password hashing function designed by Niels Provos and David Mazières. It automatically incorporates a random salt and is intentionally slow (configurable cost factor), making brute-force and rainbow table attacks impractical. In Laravel/PHP use Hash::make() or password_hash().

Argon2 is the winner of the Password Hashing Competition (2015) and is the most modern recommended algorithm for password storage. Argon2id is the recommended variant — it is both time-hard and memory-hard, making GPU attacks very expensive. Laravel supports it via Hash::make() with the argon2id driver.

How do I verify a bcrypt hash in PHP/Laravel?

In Laravel use Hash::check('plain_password', $hash). In plain PHP use password_verify('plain_password', $hash). bcrypt stores the salt inside the hash itself, so verification always works even though the same password produces a different hash each time.

Can I decrypt SHA-256?

No. SHA-256 is a one-way cryptographic function and cannot be reversed. The only practical attack is brute-force (trying all possibilities), which is computationally infeasible for long or complex passwords. This is why you should use strong, unique passwords.

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All Supported Hash Algorithms

Choose the right algorithm for your use case

MD5

128-bit legacy hash. Fast and widely supported. Once used for passwords but now cryptographically broken. Still used for file checksums and non-security integrity checks.

SHA-1

160-bit hash from the SHA-1 standard. Deprecated by NIST in 2011. Still used in some legacy systems and Git commit hashes. Not secure for new password storage or certificates.

SHA-256

The most widely used secure hash algorithm. Part of the SHA-2 family. Used in TLS/SSL certificates, code signing, Bitcoin, and JWT tokens. Recommended for data integrity.

SHA-512

512-bit hash from the SHA-2 family. More secure and collision-resistant than SHA-256. Used when extra security margin is needed — API tokens, HMAC keys, and high-security signatures.

SHA-3 (Keccak)

The latest NIST standard (2015). Uses a completely different internal structure (sponge construction) to SHA-2. Supports 224, 256, 384, and 512-bit outputs. Future-proof choice.

bcrypt

Designed specifically for password hashing. Uses a random salt and configurable cost factor to slow down brute-force attacks. The default in Laravel's Hash::make().

Argon2id

Winner of the Password Hashing Competition (2015). Memory-hard and time-hard by design. Resistant to GPU and ASIC brute-force attacks. The most modern password hashing standard.

HMAC-SHA256 / SHA512

Keyed-hash Message Authentication Code. Uses a secret key + SHA-256/512 to produce a hash that verifies both data integrity and authenticity. Used in API signatures and JWT.

CRC32

Cyclic Redundancy Check — a 32-bit checksum algorithm. Not cryptographic at all but extremely fast. Used for error-detection in network packets, file downloads, and ZIP archives.

Algorithm Comparison

Which algorithm should you use?

Algorithm	Output Size	Speed	Password Storage	Data Integrity	Status
MD5	128-bit	Very Fast	❌ Broken	⚠️ Legacy	Deprecated
SHA-1	160-bit	Fast	❌ Broken	⚠️ Legacy	Deprecated
SHA-256	256-bit	Fast	⚠️ Not alone	✅ Recommended	Current
SHA-512	512-bit	Fast	⚠️ Not alone	✅ High Security	Current
SHA3-256	256-bit	Moderate	⚠️ Not alone	✅ Future-proof	Latest
bcrypt	60 chars	Slow (by design)	✅ Recommended	N/A	Current
Argon2id	Variable	Slow (by design)	✅ Best Choice	N/A	Latest
HMAC-SHA256	256-bit	Fast	N/A	✅ Auth + Integrity	Current

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between MD5 and SHA-256?

MD5 produces a 128-bit hash and is cryptographically broken — vulnerable to collision attacks. SHA-256 produces a 256-bit hash and is currently secure for data integrity and certificates. Neither should be used alone for passwords.

Which algorithm should I use for storing passwords?

Always use bcrypt or Argon2id for passwords. They include a random salt and are intentionally slow, making brute-force impractical. In Laravel use Hash::make(). Never use MD5, SHA-1, or plain SHA-256 for passwords.

Can MD5 or SHA-1 hashes be decrypted?

Hashes are mathematically irreversible. However, common or short passwords can be found in rainbow tables (precomputed hash databases). This is why salting (adding random data before hashing) exists — it makes rainbow tables useless.

What does Hash::make() use in Laravel?

By default, Hash::make() in Laravel uses bcrypt with a cost factor of 10. You can switch to Argon2id by setting BCRYPT_ROUNDS in .env or changing the driver in config/hashing.php.

Is it safe to use this tool for real passwords?

Yes. All hashing happens in your browser using the Web Crypto API and CryptoJS. No data is ever sent to our servers. However, we recommend only testing sample passwords — never paste production credentials into any web tool.

What is HMAC and when should I use it?

HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code) adds a secret key to a hash function. It verifies both that data has not been tampered with AND that the sender knows the secret key. Use HMAC for API request signing, webhook verification, and JWT token validation.

Why is bcrypt output different every time?

bcrypt automatically generates a random salt for each hash. The salt is stored as part of the hash output. When verifying, bcrypt extracts the salt from the stored hash and uses it to hash the input password for comparison. This is why Hash::check() works correctly.

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