OPTION A
MD5
Use MD5 only when matching a legacy checksum where collision resistance is not a security requirement.
Try MD5TOOL COMPARISON
MD5 vs SHA-256
MD5 and SHA-256 produce fixed-length digests, but they are not equally safe. MD5 has known collision weaknesses and should not be used for security-sensitive integrity or signatures.
OPTION B
SHA-256
Choose SHA-256 for modern file integrity checks and general cryptographic hashing. Passwords need a dedicated slow password-hashing scheme instead.
Try SHA-256What each option does
MD5
Use MD5 only when matching a legacy checksum where collision resistance is not a security requirement.
SHA-256
Choose SHA-256 for modern file integrity checks and general cryptographic hashing. Passwords need a dedicated slow password-hashing scheme instead.
How to choose
Use MD5 only when matching a legacy checksum where collision resistance is not a security requirement. Choose SHA-256 for modern file integrity checks and general cryptographic hashing. Passwords need a dedicated slow password-hashing scheme instead.
Before relying on a result, check the output with a small sample and confirm that the format or assumptions match your destination. Keep an original copy when converting files or changing data.