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HTTP ETag Generator

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Generate a content-hash ETag response header value using MD5, SHA-1, or SHA-256, with strong or weak (W/) validator syntax, ready to drop into a server response.

Paste the exact content you'd serve and get back a properly quoted ETag header value: digest it with MD5, SHA-1, or SHA-256, hex-encode the result, and wrap it in the exact quoting syntax an ETag header expects, with an optional weak-validator W/ prefix. This is a content-hash generator, not a reimplementation of any particular web server's own ETag algorithm, many servers (nginx, Apache, static file middleware) actually key their ETag off file size and modification time instead of hashing the body, so a value generated here won't match theirs byte for byte even though both are valid ETags.

httpetagcachingheadershash

How to use HTTP ETag Generator

  • 1.Paste the exact response body or file content you want to generate an ETag for.
  • 2.Pick a hash algorithm (SHA-1 is a common default; MD5 and SHA-256 are also supported).
  • 3.Toggle the weak validator if this ETag reflects a semantically-equivalent-but-not-byte-identical representation, then copy the header value into your response.

Frequently asked questions

Will this match the ETag my web server generates?
Not necessarily. Many servers derive their ETag from file size and modification time rather than hashing the content, so this content-hash value is a valid ETag on its own but won't always match what nginx, Apache, or a static file server produces for the same file.
What's the difference between a strong and weak ETag?
A strong ETag (no prefix) asserts byte-for-byte identity and is required for range requests to be safe. A weak ETag (W/ prefix) only asserts semantic equivalence, meaning the response could differ slightly (like whitespace) while still being considered the same for caching purposes.
Which algorithm should I use?
SHA-1 is a common default for ETag generation since it's fast and the header value doesn't need cryptographic collision resistance. MD5 is shorter, SHA-256 is stronger if you want extra collision resistance, and any of the three work as a valid opaque ETag string.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No, the browser tool hashes everything client-side. The REST API and SDKs process whatever content you send them, same as any other API call.

Use via API, SDK, or MCP

cURL# Free: 1,000 req/day · Pro: 10,000 req/day
curl -X POST https://api.utilix.tech/v1/tools/etag-generator \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer utx_live_..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"content":"console.log(1)","algorithm":"SHA-1"}'

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