What is an MD5 Hash?
MD5 (Message Digest 5) is a cryptographic hash function that produces a 128-bit (32 hex character) hash value. It's commonly used to verify file integrity — if even one character changes, the hash changes completely.
MD5 vs SHA-256
MD5 is fast but considered cryptographically broken for security purposes. SHA-256 is slower but much more secure. Use MD5 only for checksum verification, never for password hashing or security-critical applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reverse an MD5 hash?
MD5 is a one-way function — you cannot mathematically reverse it. However, simple inputs can be found in rainbow tables (precomputed hash databases). This is why MD5 should never be used for passwords.
Is my text safe?
Yes. All hashing happens locally in your browser using the crypto-js library. Nothing is sent to any server.