Hash Functions: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-3, Blake2
A side-by-side comparison of major hash functions: output size, speed, security status, and recommended use cases.
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Tags: security, cryptography, hashing
Hash Functions Compared: MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-3, BLAKE3 Hash functions are fundamental to cryptography, but not all hash functions are equivalent in security, speed, or appropriate use cases. This comparison covers the five most relevant hash functions you'll encounter, explains why some are deprecated, and helps you choose the right one for your use case. The Comparison Table | Algorithm | Output | Speed (CPU) | Security Status | Use Case | |-----------|--------|-------------|-----------------|----------| | MD5 | 128 bits (16 bytes) | Fastest | Broken — do not use for security | Legacy checksums only | | SHA-1 | 160 bits (20 bytes) | Fast | Broken — practical collisions demonstrated | Migrate away | | SHA-256 | 256 bits (32 bytes) | Medium | Strong | General purpose, TLS, HMAC | |…
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