Binary Checksum Calculator
Calculate MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 hashes from binary data. Convert binary bits into bytes and hexadecimal, and copy the resulting checksums for your projects.
Enter binary data
Use only 0 and 1. Spaces, line breaks, commas and underscores can separate groups of bits.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your binary bits.
- Choose whether incomplete bytes should be rejected or padded with zeros on the right.
- Click Calculate Checksums.
- Review the byte grouping and hexadecimal representation.
- Copy the hash algorithm result you need.
What is a binary checksum?
A checksum or hash is a value calculated from data. Comparing hashes generated using the same algorithm can help identify whether two byte sequences differ. Cryptographic hashes such as SHA-256 are commonly used to verify data integrity.
Binary bits versus text
The eight bits 01001000 represent the single byte
48 in hexadecimal. That byte represents the letter
H in ASCII-compatible UTF-8. It is not the same as hashing the
eight printed characters 01001000 as text.
This calculator interprets the input as actual binary bits.
Why must the input contain complete bytes?
A byte contains eight bits. Hash algorithms process byte sequences, so an input containing 16 bits represents two bytes. An input containing 13 bits does not represent a whole number of bytes. By default, this tool asks you to correct that input.
If you select right-padding, the bits 101 become
10100000, which is hexadecimal A0.
The resulting checksum is for the padded byte, not for the
original three-bit sequence alone.
Supported checksum algorithms
| Algorithm | Digest size | Typical purpose |
|---|---|---|
| MD5 | 128 bits | Legacy compatibility |
| SHA-1 | 160 bits | Legacy compatibility |
| SHA-256 | 256 bits | Modern data integrity verification |
| SHA-512 | 512 bits | Modern cryptographic hashing |
Hashing is not encryption: a hash is not designed to be decrypted to recover the original data. For secure password storage, use a dedicated password-hashing function rather than a general-purpose checksum.
Frequently asked questions
What does this binary checksum calculator do?
It converts binary digits into bytes and calculates MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256 and SHA-512 hashes from those bytes.
Why is my input rejected?
The input may contain characters other than 0 and 1, be empty, exceed the size limit, or contain a number of bits that is not divisible by eight while strict mode is selected.
Which algorithm should I use?
SHA-256 is a good default for integrity verification. SHA-512 is also suitable. MD5 and SHA-1 should not be used where collision resistance is important.
Why does another calculator give a different result?
Confirm that both tools hash the same bytes. Hashing the binary digits as text, using different padding, or choosing a different algorithm will produce a different result.
Is this a CRC calculator?
No. CRC algorithms are designed primarily for detecting accidental transmission or storage errors. MD5 and SHA algorithms produce hash digests and have different properties and use cases.