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DevUtil

MD5 Hash Generator - Generate MD5 Checksums Online

MD5 Hash
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All Hash Algorithms

About the MD5 Hash Generator

MD5 is one of the most widely recognised hash functions in computing. Designed by Ronald Rivest in 1991 as a successor to MD4, it produces a 128-bit digest (32 hex characters) from any input. Despite its age, MD5 remains ubiquitous in checksums, ETags, cache invalidation, and legacy systems throughout the software ecosystem.

This tool generates MD5 hashes entirely in your browser. No data is sent to any server, so it is safe to use with sensitive text. The hash updates in real time as you type.

How to Use the MD5 Generator

Type or paste the text you want to hash into the input area. The MD5 digest appears immediately below. Use the copy button to grab the result for use in configuration files, scripts, or verification commands.

Security Considerations

MD5 is cryptographically broken. Researchers demonstrated practical collision attacks in 2004, and in 2008 forged a rogue CA certificate using an MD5 collision. You should never use MD5 for password hashing, digital signatures, certificate fingerprints, or any application where collision resistance matters.

For non-security checksums, such as verifying file downloads, generating cache keys, or computing ETags, MD5 remains fast and perfectly adequate. When security matters, use SHA-256 or SHA-512 instead.

Common Use Cases

Developers use MD5 hashes to verify downloaded files match expected checksums, to generate cache-busting keys for assets, and to compute content-based identifiers for deduplication. Many APIs return MD5 checksums alongside uploaded objects (notably Amazon S3's Content-MD5 header). Database administrators use MD5 to quickly compare large datasets by hashing row contents.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MD5?
MD5 (Message-Digest Algorithm 5) is a widely used hash function that produces a 128-bit (16-byte) hash value, typically rendered as a 32-character hexadecimal string. It was designed by Ronald Rivest in 1991 and was originally intended for cryptographic use.
Is MD5 secure?
MD5 is no longer considered cryptographically secure. Collision attacks have been demonstrated since 2004, meaning two different inputs can produce the same MD5 hash. It should not be used for password hashing, digital signatures, or any security-critical application. For security purposes, use SHA-256 or SHA-512 instead.
When is it OK to use MD5?
MD5 is still acceptable for non-security checksums, such as verifying file integrity over trusted channels, deduplication checks, cache keys, and ETags. Many legacy systems and protocols still rely on MD5 for these purposes.
How long is an MD5 hash?
An MD5 hash is always 128 bits (16 bytes) long, which is displayed as a 32-character hexadecimal string. Regardless of the input size, the output length is always the same.