Frequently Asked Questions
What is SHA-256?
SHA-256 is a cryptographic hash function producing a 256-bit (64-character hex) hash.
Is SHA-256 secure?
Yes. SHA-256 is currently considered very secure and widely used in security applications.
What is the difference between SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512?
SHA-1 (40 chars, broken), SHA-256 (64 chars, secure), SHA-512 (128 chars, more secure).
Can I hash a file with SHA-256?
Yes. Switch to the file upload tab to compute SHA-256 hashes of any file.
What is SHA-256 used for?
Blockchain (Bitcoin), SSL certificates, password hashing, digital signatures.
Does SHA-256 support UTF-8?
Yes. This tool encodes text as UTF-8 before hashing, supporting all Unicode characters.
Can SHA-256 be reversed?
No. SHA-256 is a one-way function. You cannot derive the original input from its hash.
How do I verify a SHA-256 hash?
Hash the original data and compare the result with the known hash value.