md5_file() and hash_file(): Which is better?

M66 2025-05-31

In PHP, md5_file() and hash_file() are functions used to calculate file hash values, which are often used to verify file integrity or verify whether the file content has been tampered with. But what is the difference between them? Which function should I choose in actual development? This article will analyze the characteristics and application scenarios of these two functions in detail.

1. Function introduction

1. md5_file()

md5_file() is a function in PHP that is specifically used to calculate the MD5 hash value of a file. It is very simple to use. Pass the file path and you can return the MD5 value of the file.

 <?php
$md5Hash = md5_file('https://m66.net/path/to/file.txt');
echo $md5Hash;
?>

The returned string is a 32-bit hexadecimal number that represents the MD5 check value of the file content.

2. hash_file()

hash_file() is a more general file hash calculation function provided by PHP, supporting a variety of hash algorithms, such as MD5, SHA1, SHA256, etc. The first parameter is the hash algorithm name, and the second parameter is the file path.

 <?php
$sha256Hash = hash_file('sha256', 'https://m66.net/path/to/file.txt');
echo $sha256Hash;
?>

This function returns the file hash value calculated using the specified algorithm.

2. Main differences

characteristic	md5_file()	hash_file()
Support algorithm	Supports MD5 only	Supports multiple algorithms (md5, sha1, sha256, etc.)
flexibility	Algorithm switching is not supported	Algorithms can be selected as needed
performance	Fast calculation of MD5	There is a slight difference in speed, depending on the algorithm
Use scenarios	Applicable when only MD5 verification is required	Used when multiple algorithms are required or more secure verification is required

3. Practical use suggestions

Scenarios where only MD5 verification is required <br> If your requirement is to obtain the MD5 value of the file, md5_file() is the simplest and intuitive choice, with simple and efficient code.
Scenarios that require more secure or multi-algorithm support <br> With the emergence of MD5 collision attacks, MD5's security gradually decreases. If there are high security requirements, it is recommended to use hash_file() and choose SHA256 or a safer algorithm.
Code maintainability and scalability <br> Selecting hash_file() can make the code more convenient when upgrading algorithms in the future without major modification of logic.