Question 1

What is BLAKE2?

Accepted Answer

BLAKE2 is a cryptographic hash function faster than MD5, SHA-1 and SHA-256, yet at least as secure as SHA-3. It comes in two main variants: BLAKE2b (optimized for 64-bit platforms, up to 512-bit output) and BLAKE2s (optimized for 8-32-bit platforms, up to 256-bit output).

Question 2

Is BLAKE2 supported natively in browsers?

Accepted Answer

BLAKE2 is being added to the Web Crypto API but is not yet universally available. This tool includes a pure JavaScript implementation so it works in all browsers regardless of native support.

Question 3

What is BLAKE2 used for?

Accepted Answer

BLAKE2 is used for file integrity checking, password hashing with key derivation, digital signatures, content-addressable storage, and as a faster alternative to SHA-2 in many applications.

Question 4

BLAKE2b vs BLAKE2s — which should I use?

Accepted Answer

Use BLAKE2b on desktop and server platforms (64-bit CPUs) for maximum performance and up to 512-bit output. Use BLAKE2s on constrained or 32-bit devices. For most web use cases BLAKE2b is recommended.