A Beginner’s Guide to SHA Hash Functions
2 min read
The SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm) family of cryptographic functions has become the backbone of modern security systems. Designed by the National Security Agency (NSA) and published by NIST, SHA has multiple variants including SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512. These algorithms transform any input into a fixed-length output, often used in digital signatures, file verification, and password hashing.
SHA-1 was once widely used, but like MD5, it has been proven vulnerable to collision attacks. Today, it should only be used for non-security purposes. SHA-256 and SHA-512, however, remain highly secure and are commonly implemented in HTTPS, blockchain technologies, and authentication systems.
Key Differences Between Variants
- SHA-1: Produces a 160-bit hash. Fast but no longer secure against attackers.
- SHA-256: Generates a 256-bit hash, widely used in SSL/TLS certificates and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
- SHA-512: Creates a 512-bit hash, offering even greater resistance against brute-force attacks.
Choosing between these depends on your security needs. For sensitive data or password storage, SHA-256 or stronger algorithms should be your default choice.
You can test how these work with our SHA Generator, which lets you convert text into SHA-1, SHA-256, or SHA-512 hashes instantly in your browser.
Hash functions are foundational in security and understanding them helps developers make better decisions about protecting users and data.