Why is MD5 considered broken?

Researchers can generate two different inputs with the same MD5 hash quickly, so it can no longer prove a file hasn't been tampered with.

Is SHA-256 good for passwords?

Not directly — it's too fast, letting attackers brute-force. Use a purpose-built password hash like bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2.

Can I still use MD5 anywhere?

Only in non-security roles like cache keys or quick change detection where an attacker gains nothing from a collision.

MD5 vs SHA-256

MD5 and SHA-256 are cryptographic hash functions that turn any input into a fixed-length fingerprint. MD5 produces 128 bits and is fast but broken — practical collision attacks exist. SHA-256, part of the SHA-2 family, produces 256 bits and remains secure.

The right choice hinges on whether you need security or just a cheap checksum. MD5 still appears in non-security contexts like cache keys, but it must never protect anything an attacker could tamper with.

At a glance

Aspect	MD5	SHA-256
Output length	128 bits (32 hex chars)	256 bits (64 hex chars)
Speed	Faster	Slower but still fast
Collision resistance	Broken	Strong
Security use	Unsafe	Recommended
Typical use	Cache keys, legacy checksums	Signatures, passwords, integrity

When to use MD5

You need a fast non-security fingerprint like a cache or dedup key.
You're matching against legacy systems that only speak MD5.
Tamper resistance genuinely doesn't matter.

When to use SHA-256

You're verifying file integrity or digital signatures.
You're hashing anything security-sensitive.
You want a future-proof, collision-resistant algorithm.

Verdict

For anything touching security, use SHA-256; MD5 is cryptographically broken and should never guard authenticity. MD5 survives only as a fast, non-adversarial checksum. And remember: even SHA-256 alone isn't right for passwords — those need a slow, salted algorithm like bcrypt or Argon2.

Frequently asked questions

Related free tools

MD5 Generator

Generate MD5 hashes of text, with an option to hash each line separately.

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SHA-256 Generator

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Hash Generator

Generate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 hashes of any text at once in a table.

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