---
title: "createHash( algorithm ) | Grafana k6 documentation"
description: "Create a Hasher object, allowing the user to add data to hash multiple times, and extract hash digests along the way."
---

# createHash( algorithm )

> Note
> 
> A module with a better and standard API exists.
> 
> The [crypto module](/docs/k6/latest/javascript-api/crypto/) partially implements the [WebCrypto API](https://www.w3.org/TR/WebCryptoAPI/), supporting more features than [k6/crypto](/docs/k6/latest/javascript-api/k6-crypto/).

Creates a hashing object that can then be fed with data repeatedly, and from which you can extract a hash digest whenever you want.

Expand table

| Parameter | Type   | Description                                                                                                                                                         |
|-----------|--------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| algorithm | string | The name of the hashing algorithm you want to use. Can be any one of “md4”, “md5”, “sha1”, “sha256”, “sha384”, “sha512”, “sha512\_224”, “sha512\_256”, “ripemd160”. |

### Returns

Expand table

| Type   | Description                                                          |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| object | A [Hasher](/docs/k6/latest/javascript-api/k6-crypto/hasher/) object. |

### Example

JavaScript ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```javascript
import crypto from 'k6/crypto';

export default function () {
  console.log(crypto.sha256('hello world!', 'hex'));
  const hasher = crypto.createHash('sha256');
  hasher.update('hello ');
  hasher.update('world!');
  console.log(hasher.digest('hex'));
}
```

The above script should result in the following being printed during execution:

Bash ![Copy code to clipboard](/media/images/icons/icon-copy-small-2.svg) Copy

```bash
INFO[0000] 7509e5bda0c762d2bac7f90d758b5b2263fa01ccbc542ab5e3df163be08e6ca9
INFO[0000] 7509e5bda0c762d2bac7f90d758b5b2263fa01ccbc542ab5e3df163be08e6ca9
```