MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and Base64 — the four utilities you always need for exactly ninety seconds at a time. The Gizmo 421 Hash & Base64 encoder computes all three digests live as you type, encodes text to Base64 (with a URL-safe option), and decodes it back.
Hashes are one-way fingerprints: change one character and the digest changes completely, which makes them handy for verifying downloads and comparing files. The MD5 and SHA-1 implementations run in-house right on the page; SHA-256 uses your browser’s built-in cryptographic engine. Base64 isn’t encryption — it’s an encoding — but it’s the workhorse of data URLs, API keys, and “why is this in my log” moments. The encoder handles accents and emoji properly through UTF-8, and the URL-safe toggle makes output safe for links and filenames.
Is hashing the same as encrypting? No — hashes can’t be reversed; they verify, not hide. Which hash should I use? SHA-256 for anything serious; MD5 and SHA-1 are here for legacy checksums and curiosity. What’s URL-safe Base64? The variant that replaces characters URLs would misinterpret, for putting data directly in links. Does anything leave my browser? Nothing — every digest is computed locally, so it’s safe for sensitive strings.