BLAKE2 Hash Generator
Generate a BLAKE2b-256 hash digest from text, fully client-side.
How to Use
- Enter text — Type or paste the text you want to hash into the input area, or click Load Example to try a sample.
- Generate the digest — Click Generate Hash to compute the BLAKE2b-256 digest. The hash also updates as you type.
- Copy the hash — Use the copy button to grab the 64-character hexadecimal digest.
- Compare digests — Hash the same input twice to confirm it is stable, or hash two inputs to confirm they differ.
Everything runs entirely in your browser. The text you enter is never uploaded anywhere.
What is BLAKE2?
BLAKE2 is a cryptographic hash function designed as a faster and more modern alternative to MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-2. It was published in 2015 and produces a fixed-length digest that uniquely represents the input; change a single character and the digest changes completely.
BLAKE2 ships in two variants. BLAKE2b is optimised for 64-bit platforms and can produce digests up to 64 bytes (512 bits). BLAKE2s is optimised for 8- to 32-bit platforms and produces digests up to 32 bytes (256 bits). Both support an optional key for keyed hashing, which turns the function into a message authentication code.
This generator computes the BLAKE2b-256 digest — the 64-bit variant with a 32-byte (256-bit) output, shown as 64 hexadecimal characters. The implementation runs locally in JavaScript and has been verified against the published BLAKE2 test vectors.
BLAKE2 vs Other Hash Functions
| Algorithm | Word size | Max digest | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLAKE2b | 64-bit | 64 bytes | General-purpose, fast on modern CPUs |
| BLAKE2s | 32-bit | 32 bytes | Embedded and 32-bit systems |
| BLAKE3 | 32-bit | Extendable | Parallel and incremental hashing |
| SHA-256 | 32-bit | 32 bytes | Ubiquitous standard, widely required |
Example Digests (BLAKE2b-256)
| Input | BLAKE2b-256 digest |
|---|---|
| (empty string) | 0e5751c026e543b2e8ab2eb06099daa1d1e5df47778f7787faab45cdf12fe3a8 |
| abc | bddd813c634239723171ef3fee98579b94964e3bb1cb3e427262c8c068d52319 |
| hello world | 256c83b297114d201b30179f3f0ef0cace9783622da5974326b436178aeef610 |
| The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog | 01718cec35cd3d796dd00020e0bfecb473ad23457d063b75eff29c0ffa2e58a9 |
Paste any of the inputs above into the tool to reproduce the matching digest. These are the standard BLAKE2b test vectors used by many libraries.
When to Use BLAKE2
- Checksums and file integrity — verify that a download or copy arrived unchanged.
- Deduplication — fingerprint content to detect identical files or records.
- Keyed hashing — with a secret key, BLAKE2 acts as a MAC for authenticating messages.
- Serving as a faster SHA-2 — when a standard is not mandated, BLAKE2b is typically faster than SHA-256 in software.
- Not for password storage — BLAKE2 is a fast hash. For passwords use a slow, salted function such as bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does BLAKE2 differ from BLAKE3?
BLAKE2 is a well-established, widely-implemented standard. BLAKE3 is a newer design built on a similar core but optimised for parallel and incremental hashing, and it offers extendable output.
When should I use BLAKE2b instead of BLAKE2s?
Use BLAKE2b on 64-bit systems for maximum throughput and larger digests (up to 64 bytes). Use BLAKE2s on constrained or 32-bit platforms where its smaller word size performs better (digests up to 32 bytes).
What output length does this tool produce?
It produces a fixed 256-bit digest (32 bytes), shown as 64 hexadecimal characters. This corresponds to BLAKE2b-256.
Can I use BLAKE2 to store passwords?
No. BLAKE2 is intentionally fast, which makes it a poor choice for password hashing because it speeds up brute-force attacks. Use a deliberately slow algorithm such as bcrypt, scrypt, or Argon2 for passwords.
Is BLAKE2 faster than SHA-256?
In software, BLAKE2b is usually faster than SHA-256 on modern 64-bit CPUs, often by a significant margin, while offering a comparable level of security.
Is my data stored or sent to a server?
No. Everything runs entirely in your browser and your input is never uploaded anywhere.