How to Hash Data with MD5 in Go (And Why You Shouldn't)

MD5 is cryptographically broken and should not be used for security purposes; use SHA-256 instead. The standard library provides crypto/md5 for legacy compatibility, but crypto/sha256 is the recommended alternative.

package main

import (
	"crypto/md5"
	"fmt"
)

func main() {
	data := []byte("example data")
	hash := md5.Sum(data)
	fmt.Printf("%x\n", hash)
}

Do not use this for passwords, signatures, or any security-sensitive data.

MD5 is an old method for creating a unique fingerprint of data, but hackers can easily fake these fingerprints. You should only use it for checking if a file changed during a download, not for protecting passwords or secrets. Think of it like a cheap padlock: it keeps honest people honest, but a thief can pick it instantly.