Hash Collision Demonstrator
Understand hash collision probability through the Birthday Paradox visualization
Select Hash Algorithm
The Birthday Paradox
How many people need to be in a room before there's a 50% chance two share a birthday?
This counterintuitive result extends to hash functions: with n possible hash values, you only need approximately sqrt(n) hashes before expecting a collision.
Collision Probability Calculator
Key Thresholds for SHA-256
Collision Probability Curve
Real-World Implications
MD5 (128-bit)
Collisions found in seconds with modern hardware. First practical collision demonstrated in 2004.
SHA-1 (160-bit)
First collision published in 2017 (SHAttered attack). Deprecated for security use.
SHA-256 (256-bit)
Would require ~2^128 operations to find collision. Currently considered secure.
SHA-512 (512-bit)
Extremely large output space. Would require ~2^256 operations for collision.
Live Collision Simulation
Watch as random hashes are generated until a collision occurs. Uses a simplified 16-bit hash for demonstration.
Security Recommendations
Use SHA-256 or stronger
For cryptographic purposes, always use hash functions with at least 256-bit output.
Avoid MD5 and SHA-1
These algorithms are broken for collision resistance and should not be used for security.
Consider future threats
Quantum computers may reduce security of current algorithms. Plan for quantum-resistant alternatives.
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