SHA-256 Hash Generator

What is SHA-256?

SHA-256 is a cryptographic hash function from the SHA-2 family that turns any amount of input text into a fixed 256-bit (64 hexadecimal character) fingerprint. The same input always produces the same hash, but even a one-character change in the input produces a completely different, unpredictable result.

How to use it

1. Type or paste your text into the box.
2. The SHA-256 hash updates automatically and can be copied with one click.

SHA-256 is used throughout modern computing: it underlies Bitcoin's proof-of-work, it verifies that a downloaded file hasn't been corrupted or tampered with, and it forms part of TLS certificates that secure HTTPS connections. It is a one-way function — there is no way to reconstruct the original text from the hash alone — which is why it is trusted for integrity checks, though for storing passwords a purpose-built, deliberately slow algorithm like bcrypt is the better choice, since plain SHA-256 is fast enough that attackers can try billions of guesses per second. This tool computes the hash using your browser's native Web Crypto API, so no library needs to be downloaded and no text ever leaves your device.