md5 vs crypto-js vs bcrypt vs sha1 vs sha256
Cryptographic Libraries in JavaScript Comparison
1 Year
md5crypto-jsbcryptsha1sha256Similar Packages:
What's Cryptographic Libraries in JavaScript?

Cryptographic libraries in JavaScript provide developers with tools to implement secure hashing, encryption, and decryption functionalities. These libraries are essential for protecting sensitive data, ensuring data integrity, and implementing secure authentication mechanisms. Each library has its own strengths and use cases, making it crucial for developers to choose the right one based on their specific security requirements and performance considerations.

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md59,180,82690621.4 kB12-BSD-3-Clause
crypto-js8,371,18616,014487 kB274a year agoMIT
bcrypt1,968,3847,573111 kB492 years agoMIT
sha1569,739106-010 years agoBSD-3-Clause
sha25661,06948-410 years ago-
Feature Comparison: md5 vs crypto-js vs bcrypt vs sha1 vs sha256

Purpose

  • md5:

    MD5 is primarily used for checksums and data integrity verification rather than security. It is fast and suitable for non-critical applications where security is not a concern.

  • crypto-js:

    Crypto-js is a general-purpose cryptographic library that provides a wide range of cryptographic algorithms, including hashing and encryption, making it suitable for various security needs in web applications.

  • bcrypt:

    Bcrypt is specifically designed for hashing passwords securely. It incorporates a salt to protect against rainbow table attacks and allows for adjustable work factors to increase hashing time as hardware improves.

  • sha1:

    SHA-1 is a hashing algorithm that was widely used for data integrity but is now considered weak against collision attacks. It is still used in some legacy systems but not recommended for new applications.

  • sha256:

    SHA-256 is a cryptographic hash function that is part of the SHA-2 family. It is widely used for secure data hashing and is considered secure against collision attacks.

Security

  • md5:

    MD5 is not secure for cryptographic purposes due to known vulnerabilities, including collision attacks. It should not be used for password hashing or sensitive data.

  • crypto-js:

    Crypto-js provides a range of algorithms, but the security of its implementations depends on the chosen algorithm and usage. Developers must ensure proper implementation to avoid vulnerabilities.

  • bcrypt:

    Bcrypt is highly secure for password storage due to its adaptive nature, making it resistant to brute-force attacks. It is the recommended choice for securely hashing passwords.

  • sha1:

    SHA-1 is also considered insecure for cryptographic purposes due to vulnerabilities that allow for collision attacks. It is not recommended for new applications requiring strong security.

  • sha256:

    SHA-256 is currently considered secure and is widely used in security protocols. It is resistant to collision attacks and is suitable for secure hashing.

Performance

  • md5:

    MD5 is very fast, making it suitable for applications where performance is a priority, but this speed comes at the cost of security.

  • crypto-js:

    Crypto-js offers a good balance of performance and security, but the speed varies depending on the algorithm used. It is generally fast for most common cryptographic operations.

  • bcrypt:

    Bcrypt is slower than other hashing algorithms due to its design, which is intentional to enhance security. This makes it less suitable for high-performance applications where speed is critical.

  • sha1:

    SHA-1 is relatively fast compared to SHA-256, but its performance is not as critical as its security weaknesses. It is faster than SHA-256 but should be avoided for secure applications.

  • sha256:

    SHA-256 is slower than MD5 and SHA-1 but provides better security. It is suitable for applications where security is more important than speed.

Use Cases

  • md5:

    MD5 is often used for checksums and data integrity verification in non-security-critical applications, such as file downloads or data validation.

  • crypto-js:

    Crypto-js is suitable for applications that require both encryption and hashing, such as securing sensitive data in transit or at rest.

  • bcrypt:

    Bcrypt is ideal for securely hashing user passwords in authentication systems, ensuring that even if the database is compromised, the passwords remain protected.

  • sha1:

    SHA-1 can be found in legacy systems and applications that have not yet migrated to more secure hashing algorithms, but it should be avoided in new projects.

  • sha256:

    SHA-256 is widely used in blockchain technology, digital signatures, and secure communications, making it a go-to choice for applications requiring strong data integrity.

Community Support

  • md5:

    MD5 is well-known and has extensive legacy documentation, but its use is declining due to security concerns, leading to less community focus on new developments.

  • crypto-js:

    Crypto-js has a large user base and active community, providing ample documentation and examples for various cryptographic needs.

  • bcrypt:

    Bcrypt has strong community support and is widely adopted for password hashing, with many resources available for implementation and best practices.

  • sha1:

    SHA-1 has significant historical documentation, but due to its vulnerabilities, community support is shifting towards more secure alternatives like SHA-256.

  • sha256:

    SHA-256 is widely supported and has extensive documentation, with a strong community advocating for its use in modern security practices.

How to Choose: md5 vs crypto-js vs bcrypt vs sha1 vs sha256
  • md5:

    Use md5 for legacy systems or non-security-critical applications where speed is more important than security, as it is fast but vulnerable to collision attacks.

  • crypto-js:

    Select crypto-js for a versatile library that supports various cryptographic algorithms, including AES and HMAC, suitable for both encryption and hashing needs in web applications.

  • bcrypt:

    Choose bcrypt for password hashing, as it is specifically designed to be slow to mitigate brute-force attacks, making it ideal for securely storing user passwords.

  • sha1:

    Opt for sha1 if you need a faster hashing algorithm than SHA-256, but be aware that it is considered weak against collision attacks and is not recommended for security-sensitive applications.

  • sha256:

    Choose sha256 for a secure hashing algorithm that is widely used in various security protocols and provides a good balance between performance and security.

README for md5

MD5

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a JavaScript function for hashing messages with MD5.

node-md5 is being sponsored by the following tool; please help to support us by taking a look and signing up to a free trial
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Installation

You can use this package on the server side as well as the client side.

Node.js:

npm install md5

API

md5(message)
  • message -- String, Buffer, Array or Uint8Array
  • returns String

Usage

var md5 = require('md5');

console.log(md5('message'));

This will print the following

78e731027d8fd50ed642340b7c9a63b3

It supports buffers, too

var fs = require('fs');
var md5 = require('md5');

fs.readFile('example.txt', function(err, buf) {
  console.log(md5(buf));
});

Versions

Before version 2.0.0 there were two packages called md5 on npm, one lowercase, one uppercase (the one you're looking at). As of version 2.0.0, all new versions of this module will go to lowercase md5 on npm. To use the correct version, users of this module will have to change their code from require('MD5') to require('md5') if they want to use versions >= 2.0.0.

Bugs and Issues

If you encounter any bugs or issues, feel free to open an issue at github.

Credits

This package is based on the work of Jeff Mott, who did a pure JS implementation of the MD5 algorithm that was published by Ronald L. Rivest in 1991. I needed a npm package of the algorithm, so I used Jeff’s implementation for this package. The original implementation can be found in the CryptoJS project.

License

Copyright © 2011-2015, Paul Vorbach.
Copyright © 2009, Jeff Mott.

All rights reserved.

Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification,
are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:

* Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
  list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
* Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this
  list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or
  other materials provided with the distribution.
* Neither the name Crypto-JS nor the names of its contributors may be used to
  endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior
  written permission.

THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND
ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR
ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.