Generate Your Salt String
Use our free tool to create a cryptographically secure random salt for password hashing.
What is a Salt in Cryptography?
A salt is a unique, random string of data that is added to a password before it is hashed. The salt is then stored in the database *alongside* the hashed password. Its purpose is to ensure that even if two users have the same password, their stored hashes will be completely different.
This defeats "rainbow table" attacks, which use pre-computed tables of hashes for common passwords. By adding a unique salt, every password hash becomes unique, forcing attackers to hash each password guess individually, which is much, much slower.
How Does This Tool Work?
This tool uses your browser's built-in `crypto.getRandomValues` API, which is a cryptographically secure pseudo-random number generator (CSPRNG). It generates a specified number of random bytes and then converts them to a hexadecimal string for you to copy and use. All generation is done locally; your salt is never sent to our server.
Why Use Utils Hub's Salt Generator?
- Secure: Uses `crypto.getRandomValues` for high-quality, unpredictable randomness.
- Private: Runs entirely in your browser. No data is logged or transmitted.
- Simple: Get a standard 16-byte (128-bit) salt, or customize the length, with one click.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What's the difference between a salt and a pepper?
A salt is unique for each user and stored in the database with the user's record. A pepper is a secret key that is the *same* for all users, is *not* stored in the database, and is instead stored securely in the application's configuration. A salt prevents rainbow table attacks; a pepper adds a layer of protection in case the database itself is stolen.
What is the recommended salt length?
A salt of 16 bytes (128 bits) is generally considered sufficient and is a common recommendation (e.g., by OWASP).
Related Tools on Utils Hub
- Hash Generator – The hash function you'd combine with your salt.
- Password Generator – Create strong user passwords.
- HMAC Generator – A different type of keyed hashing.