MD5 is 128 bits but why is it 32 characters?

user_794131 0
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I read some docs about md5, it said that its 128 bits, but why is it 32 characters? I can't compute the characters.

  • 1 byte is 8 bits
  • if 1 character is 1 byte
  • then 128 bits is 128/8 = 16 bytes right?

EDIT:

SHA-1 produces 160 bits, so how many characters are there?

cryptographic-hash-function md5 cryptography hash
9 Answers

One hex digit = 1 nibble (four-bits)

Two hex digits = 1 byte (eight-bits)

MD5 = 32 hex digits

32 hex digits = 16 bytes ( 32 / 2)

16 bytes = 128 bits (16 * 8)

The same applies to SHA-1 except it's 40 hex digits long.

I hope this helps.

user_59993720

For clear understanding, copy the MD5 calculated 128 bit hash value in the Binary to Hex convertor and see the length of the Hex value. You will get 32 characters Hex characters.

user_13665030
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