SHA-1 produces a 160-bit hash value and was widely used for security applications. However, researchers have demonstrated practical collision attacks, meaning two different inputs can produce the same hash. This undermines its integrity guarantees, so it is no longer recommended for cryptographic security.

Both are part of the SHA-2 family. SHA-256 produces a 256-bit hash and operates on 32-bit words, while SHA-512 uses 64-bit words and produces a 512-bit hash. SHA-512 is generally faster on 64-bit processors and provides a longer hash, offering higher security margins against brute-force attacks.

Yes! All hashing happens locally in your browser using the Web Crypto API. Your file never leaves your device, ensuring privacy and security. No data is transmitted to any server.

You can compare the hash generated here with the one provided by the file's official source. If they match, the file is authentic and has not been tampered with. Use SHA-256 or SHA-512 for more reliable verification.

There is no strict limit, but hashing very large texts (e.g., megabytes of data) might slow down your browser. For optimal performance, avoid pasting entire novels; use the File mode for large data.