Guides & Deep Dives
Honest technical explainers on JSON, XML, hashing, and encoding. No fluff, no affiliate links, no upload. Just answers.
Is SHA-512 Secure in 2026?
SHA-512 remains cryptographically secure for integrity checks and digital signatures. No practical collision attack exists. Here's what the research says, where the real risks are, and when to use something else.
What Is SHA-512?
SHA-512 is a cryptographic hash function that produces a 512-bit digest. Learn how it works, what it's used for, its block size, output length, and when to choose it over SHA-256.
What Is SHA-256?
SHA-256 is a cryptographic hash function that produces a 256-bit fingerprint. It is the backbone of Bitcoin mining, SSL certificates, and file verification. Here is how it works and why it matters.
How Does SHA-256 Work?
A step-by-step breakdown of how SHA-256 turns any input into a 64-character fingerprint. Learn about padding, 512-bit blocks, and the 64 rounds of compression that make it irreversible.
What Is a JSON Formatter?
A JSON formatter takes raw, minified JSON and pretty-prints it with clean indentation so humans can read it. Learn how formatters work, what they do and don't fix, and when you need one.
Best JSON Formatter: How to Pick the Right One
There is no single best JSON formatter for everyone. Compare online versus offline, upload versus local, and the features that matter, so you can choose the tool that fits your workflow and your data.
How to Format a JSON File
Four ways to format a JSON file: a web formatter, a code editor, the command line, and a script. Each takes seconds, and each keeps your data local when done right.
How to Make Minified JSON Readable
Minified JSON from an API response is hard to read. Learn three ways to make it readable: pretty-print it, view it as a table, or convert it to a spreadsheet.
What Is bcrypt?
bcrypt is a password-hashing function built to be deliberately slow and salted, so leaked hashes resist brute-force guessing. Learn why it beats fast hashes like SHA-256 for storing passwords.
How Does bcrypt Work?
A step-by-step look at how bcrypt hashes a password: the random salt, the work factor, the 2^cost rounds of key stretching, and the 60-character hash it produces.
How to Convert JSON to XML
Convert JSON to XML in three steps: paste your JSON, choose how arrays and the XML declaration map, and run it locally. This guide explains the mapping, the round-trip limits, and large-file handling.
JSON vs XML: Which Format Should You Use?
JSON and XML are both formats for structured data, but they solve different problems. Compare syntax, types, schema options, and when each one is the right choice.
How to Convert XML to JSON
Convert XML to JSON in three steps: paste your XML, choose how attributes and repeated tags map, and run it locally. This guide covers the @-prefixed attribute keys, array handling, and CDATA.
How to Compare JSON Files Online
Compare two JSON files online in three steps: paste both documents, read the highlighted differences, and spot regressions fast. This guide covers the color coding, the similarity score, and the JSON-specific view.
How to Convert TSV to CSV
Convert TSV to CSV in three steps: paste your tab-separated table, convert, and download the comma-separated result. This guide covers quoting, large tables, and why this direction is lossless.
What Is Base64 Encoding?
Base64 turns binary data into a safe text string using 64 printable characters. Learn how it works, why encoded output grows by a third, and what URL-safe Base64 is, with a local encoder to try it.
What Is MD5?
MD5 turns any text or file into a fixed 32-character hash. Learn how the algorithm works, why the output is always 128 bits, and what MD5 checksums and MD5 files are for.
How to Validate JSON
Validate JSON in the browser, in JavaScript, in Python, and on the command line. Step-by-step commands that report the exact error when JSON is invalid.
Common JSON Validation Errors and How to Fix Them
Trailing commas, missing quotes, mismatched brackets, and duplicate keys. The JSON errors people hit most, with quick fixes for each one.
What Is HMAC?
HMAC is a keyed hash that proves a message is authentic and unmodified. How it works under the hood, what the acronym means, and where it is used.
How to Generate an HMAC-SHA-256 Signature
Compute HMAC-SHA-256 in JavaScript, in Python, and with OpenSSL on the command line. Copy the exact code, in hex or base64, and see a worked example.
What Is a UUID?
A UUID is a 128-bit identifier that can be generated anywhere without coordination. How the format works, what the version digit means, and where UUIDs are used.
How to Minify JSON
Minify JSON with one command or one function in JavaScript, Python, jq, and PowerShell. Copy the exact code, including how to minify a file in Node.
How to Convert JSON to CSV
Turn an array of JSON objects into a CSV table with one row per record. The exact steps, what a clean conversion needs, and when the result needs a flatten step.
Flatten Nested JSON to CSV
CSV is a flat table but JSON is deeply nested. Learn dot-notation columns for objects and the three array strategies: join, explode, and index.
Convert JSON to CSV in Python, JavaScript, and jq
Programmatic JSON to CSV with pandas json_normalize, the json2csv npm package, and jq @csv. Copy the exact scripts for flat and nested data.
How to Get the MD5 Hash of a File
Generate MD5 hashes for any file on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and verify them against a published .md5. Commands for certutil, Get-FileHash, md5, md5sum, plus verification and mismatch diagnosis.
What Is UUID v7? The Time-Ordered, Sortable UUID
UUID v7 embeds a 48-bit millisecond timestamp so IDs sort chronologically, solving the database primary key problem. Learn how v7 is laid out, how it stays monotonic, and when to pick v7 over v4 or v1.
How to Hash a Password with bcrypt
Hash a password with bcrypt in Node.js, Python and Java. Generate a salted bcrypt hash with cost 10 to 12, verify it, and handle the 72-byte limit, all locally in your browser.
What Is a Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp counts seconds since 1970-01-01. Learn how it works, seconds versus milliseconds, the 2038 problem, and how to convert between a timestamp and a human date, locally.
How to Compare Two Text Files Online
Compare two text files online line by line, see added and removed lines highlighted, and get a similarity score. Works for logs, code, configs and plain text, locally.
How to Convert CSV to JSON
Convert CSV to JSON in three steps: paste your table, choose header and delimiter, and get structured JSON. Handles quoted fields, type inference, and large files locally.
How to Decode Base64 Online
Decode any Base64 string to text or file in your browser: paste, fix padding, handle URL-safe vs standard, detect the format, and download the result locally.
Convert CSV to JSON in Python, JavaScript, and jq
Programmatic CSV to JSON with Python csv and pandas, Node csvtojson, and jq, handling headers, delimiters, and large files.
How to Convert CSV to TSV
Convert CSV to TSV in three steps: paste your comma-separated table, pick the delimiter, and get a tab-separated result. Handles quoted fields and large files locally.
What Is JSON Schema Validation?
JSON Schema validation checks whether JSON has the shape you expect: required keys, correct types, and allowed ranges. Learn what validation checks, what Lite covers, and how to read violation paths like /users/2/email.