What is RIPEMD-320?
RIPEMD-320 is a cryptographic hash function from the RIPEMD family that produces a 320-bit fixed-size digest, developed in 1996 by Dobbertin, Bosselaers, and Preneel. It provides the same security level as RIPEMD-160 and has not been compromised by collision attacks, making it suitable for applications requiring longer hash outputs while maintaining adequate cryptographic strength. This browser-based tool generates RIPEMD-320 hashes instantly and privately—nothing is uploaded to servers, no sign-up required, completely free.
How RIPEMD-320 works
RIPEMD-320 uses the Merkle-Damgård construction with a one-way compression function to hash data into a 320-bit fingerprint. Here's how it works:
- Message Preparation: The input text is padded and divided into 512-bit blocks.
- Compression Function: Each block is processed through iterative rounds using bitwise operations (AND, OR, XOR, NOT) and modular addition to transform the data.
- Parallel Processing: RIPEMD-320 runs five parallel 64-round sequences, unlike some other hash functions that use sequential rounds.
- Final Digest: The intermediate hash values are combined to produce the final 320-bit (40-character hexadecimal) hash output.
Key Property: Even a single character change in the input produces a completely different hash, making it useful for verifying data integrity.
Example Structure: An input like "Hello World" goes through the compression function in multiple 512-bit blocks, with each round applying logical operations and additions to derive the final 40-character hexadecimal digest. The exact output depends on the precise sequence of these operations across all rounds.
How to use
- Type or paste your text into the input box.
- The RIPEMD-320 hash is calculated automatically as you type.
- Choose your output encoding (Hex or Base64) if needed.
- Click Copy to copy the digest to your clipboard.
Common uses
- Digital signatures and authentication - ensuring messages are unchanged and signed by the claimed sender
- File integrity verification - confirming downloaded files or backups have not been corrupted or tampered with
- Data deduplication - identifying duplicate data blocks by comparing hash values rather than full content
- Blockchain and cryptocurrency applications - supporting hash-based proof-of-work and data integrity in distributed systems
- Legacy system support - maintaining compatibility with older applications or protocols that specifically require RIPEMD-320 hashing