SHA-512/256 generator

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Create a SHA-512/256 hash online from any text or file. This SHA-512/256 generator outputs a fixed 256-bit digest as a 64-character hexadecimal string. It’s perfect for compact, SHA-512–based checksums, digital signatures, artifact integrity, and content addressing. Typical needs include SHA-512/256 checksum verification, SHA-512/256 hash of a string, and calculate SHA-512/256 of a file online.

What is SHA-512/256?

SHA-512/256 is a standardized variant in the SHA-2 family. Internally, it uses the SHA-512 algorithm (64-bit word operations and different initial values) and then truncates the final output to 256 bits (64 hex characters). It offers the performance benefits of SHA-512 on 64-bit CPUs while producing a shorter digest comparable to SHA-256.

How to use the SHA-512/256 Generator

  1. Enter text or upload a file to hash.
  2. Click Generate to compute the SHA-512/256 digest.
  3. Copy the 64-character hex output and compare it with a published checksum or store it for verification.

When should you use it?

  • Integrity checks: Publish/verify a SHA-512/256 checksum for downloads, images, and backups.
  • Digital signatures: Use as the digest for RSA/ECDSA where SHA-512/256 is required.
  • CI/CD artifacts: Fingerprint build outputs across environments.
  • Compact identifiers: Prefer 256-bit outputs with SHA-512 internals for tokens and metadata.

Who is this for?

  • Developers generating strong, interoperable checksums for APIs and packages.
  • DevOps & SRE teams validating artifacts in pipelines.
  • Security engineers standardizing on SHA-2 variants.
  • Researchers & students comparing SHA-256 vs SHA-512/256.

Best practices & caveats

  • Passwords: Do not store raw SHA-512/256 of passwords. Use a KDF such as Argon2, bcrypt, or PBKDF2 with salt and cost factors.
  • Exact bytes matter: Encoding differences (UTF-8 vs UTF-16), hidden whitespace, and line endings (\n vs \r\n) will change the hash.
  • Avalanche effect: A 1-bit change yields a completely different digest—ensure you hash the intended data.
  • Interoperability: If partners expect SHA-256 or SHA-512, consider publishing multiple checksums.

Examples

SHA-512/256 of a string

Input:  "hello world"
Output: 392170df6b14787b701e439448c8aaf4f6364b5a5285bd6bfe632b659f4f77a0

SHA-512/256 of a file (command-line reference)

# OpenSSL (macOS/Linux/Windows with OpenSSL installed)
openssl dgst -sha512-256 /path/to/file

# Python (any OS)
python - <<'PY'
import hashlib, sys
with open(sys.argv[1], 'rb') as f:
    print(hashlib.new('sha512_256', f.read()).hexdigest())
PY /path/to/file

# Windows PowerShell (requires OpenSSL or a library)
openssl.exe dgst -sha512-256 "C:\path\to\file"

FAQ

Is SHA-512/256 secure?

Yes—for integrity and signing workflows. It’s a SHA-2 variant with modern security. For passwords, always use a dedicated KDF.

Can I decrypt a SHA-512/256 hash?

No. Hashes are one-way. “Decryption” sites only match against precomputed databases (rainbow tables).

Why doesn’t my digest match the publisher’s?

Verify you hashed the exact same bytes: check character encoding, newline differences, hidden characters, or whether you hashed a zipped container instead of the raw file.

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