About the Checksum Verifier
Software downloads, package registries, and file transfers often publish a checksum (an MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, or SHA-512 hash) alongside the file, so you can confirm what you received matches exactly what was published — no corruption, no tampering.
This tool computes a checksum of pasted content and compares it directly against an expected value, telling you immediately whether they match.
How it works
- Paste the content you want to verify into the input box.
- Paste the expected checksum value you were given (from a download page, README, or release notes).
- Choose the matching algorithm and click Verify to see whether the computed and expected checksums match.
Common use cases
- Verifying a downloaded script: Confirming that the contents of a shell script you downloaded match the SHA-256 checksum published by its maintainer, before running it.
- Checking a config file transfer: Verifying that a config file copied between systems arrived intact and unmodified by comparing checksums before and after.
- Debugging a checksum mismatch: Confirming whether a mismatch is due to actual content differences or something simpler, like an extra trailing newline.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the match case-insensitive?
Hash values are conventionally written in lowercase hex, but some tools and platforms output uppercase — the comparison ignores case so a valid match isn't reported as a failure over formatting alone.
What does it mean if the checksums don't match?
It means the content differs from whatever the checksum was originally computed against — even a single added space, a different line ending, or actual data corruption or tampering will all produce a completely different hash.
Can I verify a binary file, not just text?
This tool works on text content pasted into the browser; for verifying binary files like installers or archives, use a command-line tool (like `sha256sum` or `certutil`) that reads the file's raw bytes directly.
Which algorithm should I choose to verify against?
Use whichever algorithm the checksum was published in — this is usually stated alongside the checksum itself (e.g. 'SHA256:' prefix); using the wrong algorithm will always produce a mismatch regardless of whether the content is correct.
This tool runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to a server. Read more in the Privacy Policy, or browse the full list of tools.