PBKDF2 Key Generator – Secure Password-Based Key Derivation

Free
Utility

Derive cryptographic keys from passwords using PBKDF2 with adjustable iterations, salt formats, and hash algorithms. Perfect for password storage, API secrets, and encryption keys.

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PBKDF2 Key Generator

Derive cryptographically strong keys from passwords using PBKDF2. Configure iterations, key length, salt format, and hashing algorithm to match security policies or platform requirements.

SHA-256
100,000 iterations
32 bytes

Derivation Settings

Provide a password or passphrase and a salt value, then configure the PBKDF2 parameters to derive a deterministic cryptographic key.

Show

PBKDF2 requires a unique salt per password to prevent rainbow table attacks.

100,000 rounds
Re-derive key on any change

Derived Key Output

PBKDF2 output is deterministic: the same password, salt, iterations, key length, and hash algorithm will always produce the same key.

HEX encoded
No key yet

Security Recommendations

• Use a unique, randomly generated salt (at least 16 bytes) for every password you hash.

• Prefer SHA-256 or stronger hash functions for new systems.

• Increase iterations regularly to keep pace with faster hardware (100k–600k iterations is common for modern applications).

• Store the salt alongside the derived key; it is not secret.

• Consider peppering (additional server-side secret) for high sensitivity applications.

Examples of Real-World Usage

5 real-world examples

Discover how professionals use this tool to solve real problems and boost productivity.

Password Hashing

Hash user passwords before storing them in a database, combining a unique salt and high iteration count.

Proven

API Secret Derivation

Create deterministic API keys, JWT signing secrets, or HMAC keys from a master password plus per-service salts.

Proven

Security Benchmarking

Measure PBKDF2 performance on production hardware to tune iteration counts for authentication workflows.

Proven

Multi-Tenant Applications

Generate tenant-specific encryption keys by combining organization identifiers with user credentials.

Proven

Legacy Migration

Validate PBKDF2 parameters when migrating from older password hashing schemes to modern standards.

Proven
5+
Use Cases
100%
Real Examples
Pro
Level
Proven
Results
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Advanced PBKDF2 Features

Professional Features

Everything you need to tune PBKDF2 for production systems: choose hash algorithms, measure iteration performance, generate salts, and export deterministic keys.

Configurable Hash Algorithms

Choose between SHA-1, SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512 to meet platform or compliance requirements.

Feature
Active

Flexible Key Lengths

Derive keys from 128-bit up to 512-bit, ideal for AES keys, JWT signing secrets, API credentials, and more.

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Active

Iteration Benchmarking

Adjust PBKDF2 rounds from 1K to 2M and track derivation time to find the right balance between security and performance.

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Active

Secure Salt Generation

Generate cryptographically random salts in Base64, Hex, or raw text to prevent rainbow-table attacks.

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Active

Deterministic Output

Ensure consistent key derivation by locking down password, salt, iterations, hash algorithm, and output format.

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Active

Security Presets

Preconfigured iteration counts and salt lengths aligned with OWASP Password Storage guidelines.

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Active
6+
Features
99.9%
Reliability
24/7
Available
Free
Always

How to Use the PBKDF2 Key Generator – Password Hashing & Key Stretching

Simple 4-step process

Follow these easy steps to get started with PBKDF2 Key Generator – Password Hashing & Key Stretching and achieve your goals quickly.

1
Step 1

Enter a strong password or passphrase that you want to derive a key from.

Easy
2
Step 2

Provide a unique salt or generate a random one. Pick the correct salt format (Base64, Hex, or text).

Easy
3
Step 3

Set iterations, key length, hash algorithm, and desired output encoding.

Easy
4
Step 4

Click Derive Key to generate the PBKDF2 output and copy the result for your application.

Easy
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PBKDF2 Frequently Asked Questions

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