Last updated: April 7, 2026
MD5 vs SHA-256 — Which Hash Function Should You Use?
Quick Answer
SHA-256 is cryptographically secure; MD5 is not — collisions are trivially generated. Use SHA-256 for all security-sensitive applications (digital signatures, data integrity, TLS). Use MD5 only for non-security checksums where collision attacks are not a concern (e.g., cache keys, deduplication). Never use MD5 for passwords.
MD5 vs SHA-256 — Side by Side
| Feature | MD5 | SHA-256 |
|---|---|---|
| Output size | 128 bits (32 hex chars) | 256 bits (64 hex chars) |
| Speed | Very fast | Fast |
| Cryptographically secure | No — broken (collisions found) | Yes — currently secure |
| Collision resistance | Broken (attacks in seconds) | Secure (no practical attacks) |
| Password hashing | Never use | Too fast — use bcrypt/argon2 instead |
| File integrity | Legacy only (sufficient for non-security) | Recommended |
| Digital signatures | Do not use | Use SHA-256 or SHA-3 |
| Blockchain | Rarely | Bitcoin uses SHA-256 |
Verdict
SHA-256 is the right choice for any security context. MD5 is only acceptable for internal non-security checksums like cache keys or deduplication. Migrate any existing MD5 usage in security contexts to SHA-256 immediately.
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