What Is the SHA-256 Hash of "example"?
The SHA-256 hash of "example" is 50d858e0985ecc7f60418aaf0cc5ab587f42c2570a884095a9e8ccacd0f6545c. This is a 64-character hexadecimal string representing 256 bits. Even a single-character change to the input produces a completely different hash due to the avalanche effect.
About SHA-256
SHA-256 is part of the SHA-2 family, producing a 256-bit (64-character hex) hash. It is widely used in TLS/SSL, Bitcoin mining, code signing, and data integrity verification. SHA-256 has no known practical attacks and remains the recommended general-purpose hash function. Each bit change in the input causes roughly 50% of the output bits to flip (the avalanche effect).
How SHA-256 Computes This Hash
- Pad the message to a multiple of 512 bits (append 1 bit, zeros, then 64-bit length)
- Initialize eight 32-bit state variables (h0-h7) from the fractional parts of the square roots of the first 8 primes
- Expand each 512-bit block into 64 32-bit words using sigma functions
- Process through 64 rounds using Ch, Maj, and two sigma functions with round constants derived from cube roots of the first 64 primes
- After all blocks, concatenate h0-h7 to produce the 256-bit digest
Hash Details
| Input | example |
| Algorithm | SHA-256 |
| Hash (hex) | 50d858e0985ecc7f60418aaf0cc5ab587f42c2570a884095a9e8ccacd0f6545c |
| Character count | 64 hex characters |
| Bit length | 256 bits |
Security note: While SHA-256 is secure for data integrity and checksums, never use plain SHA-256 for password hashing. Passwords should be hashed with bcrypt, Argon2, or scrypt, which include salting and key stretching.
Verify It Yourself
JavaScript (Node.js)
require('crypto').createHash('sha256').update('example').digest('hex');
// "50d858e0985ecc7f60418aaf0cc5ab587f42c2570a884095a9e8ccacd0f6545c"Python
import hashlib
hashlib.sha256(b'example').hexdigest()
# '50d858e0985ecc7f60418aaf0cc5ab587f42c2570a884095a9e8ccacd0f6545c'Bash
echo -n 'example' | sha256sum
# 50d858e0985ecc7f60418aaf0cc5ab587f42c2570a884095a9e8ccacd0f6545c -Try It Yourself
Use our SHA-256 Hash Generator to hash any string instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SHA-256 safe to use in 2026?
SHA-256 remains cryptographically secure with no known practical attacks. It is safe for data integrity, digital signatures, and checksums. For password hashing, use bcrypt or Argon2 instead.
Can I reverse a SHA-256 hash?
No. SHA-256 is a one-way function. Common inputs like "example" can be found via rainbow tables, which is why you should never use plain SHA-256 for passwords -- use bcrypt or Argon2 instead.
What is the avalanche effect?
The avalanche effect means that a tiny change in the input (even one bit) causes roughly 50% of the output bits to change. This makes it impossible to predict the hash of a similar input from a known hash.