What is a SHA-512 hash?

SHA-512 (Secure Hash Algorithm 512-bit) is a cryptographic hash function in the SHA-2 family. It takes any input and produces a unique, fixed-length 512-bit (128-character hex) 'hash' or 'digest'. It is a one-way function used for verification, not encryption.

What is the SHA-512 hash length?

A SHA-512 hash is always 512 bits long. This is represented as a 128-character hexadecimal string (double the length of SHA-256).

Is SHA-512 more secure than SHA-256?

Theoretically, yes. SHA-512 produces a longer hash, providing greater resistance to 'collisions' (finding two inputs with the same hash). Practically, both SHA-256 and SHA-512 are considered unbroken and highly secure. SHA-512's main advantage for password hashing is that it's generally *slower*, making brute-force attacks more difficult. It also uses 64-bit operations, which can be faster on 64-bit CPUs.

SHA-512/256 is a variant of SHA-512. It runs the full SHA-512 algorithm (using 64-bit operations) but then *truncates* the final output to 256 bits. This provides the speed benefits of 64-bit processing on compatible CPUs while still producing a standard 256-bit hash, and it avoids potential 'length extension' attacks.

SHA-512 Hash Generator

Secure online calculator for SHA-512 (128-character) hashes.

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All operations happen in your browser.
Your data, images, files, keys, or passwords are never stored or sent to our servers.
We don't track or monitor your generated content.

What is SHA-512? (SHA-2 Family)

SHA-512 (Secure Hash Algorithm 512-bit) is a **cryptographic hash function** and a member of the **SHA-2** family, which also includes SHA-256. Like its siblings, it was designed by the NSA as a secure, one-way function.

SHA-512 takes any input data and produces a **512-bit** digest. This fixed-length output is represented as a **128-character hexadecimal string**.

SHA-512 vs. SHA-256: Which is Better? This is the most common question, and the answer depends on the context:

Security: Both are considered *fully secure* against current attacks. SHA-512's larger 512-bit output provides a *theoretically* larger collision resistance (it's harder to find two inputs with the same hash) than SHA-256's 256-bit output.
Performance (CPU): SHA-512 uses **64-bit** operations, while SHA-256 uses 32-bit operations. This means SHA-512 can actually be *faster* than SHA-256 on modern 64-bit CPUs.
Performance (Password Hashing): For password hashing, "slower is better" to frustrate brute-force attacks. Because SHA-512 involves more computational rounds and a larger internal state, it is generally *slower* for this purpose, which is a **security benefit**.

Key Use Cases for this Generator:

High-Security Password Storage: Due to its speed and resistance, SHA-512 (with a "salt") is an excellent choice for storing password hashes.
Data Integrity Check: Verifying large file downloads where maximum collision resistance is desired.
Government & Military: Used in applications that require a higher security margin than SHA-256.
Variants: This algorithm is also the base for SHA-512/256 and SHA-512/224, which run the full SHA-512 process but truncate the output to 256 or 224 bits, respectively.

SHA-512 Hash Examples

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SHA-512 Best Practices & Key Concepts

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Myth: Hashing is Encryption

This is the #1 misconception. Hashing is **one-way** (for verification). Encryption is **two-way** (for confidentiality) and can be reversed with a key. You cannot "decrypt" a SHA-512 hash. Never use it to "hide" data you need to get back.

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SHA-512 vs SHA-256 for Passwords

For password hashing, SHA-512 is often preferred because it is **computationally slower** than SHA-256 (even on 64-bit CPUs, when accounting for all rounds). This slowness is a *feature*, as it makes brute-force attacks (billions of guesses) much more expensive and time-consuming for an attacker.

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64-bit Architecture

SHA-512 is optimized for **64-bit processors**, performing calculations with 64-bit "words". In contrast, SHA-256 uses 32-bit "words". This is a key architectural difference. On a 64-bit server, SHA-512 might outperform SHA-256 in raw throughput, but this is different from its password-hashing speed (which involves key stretching).