What is an identicon?

An identicon is a unique visual identifier generated from a hash of a user's name, email, or other data. It creates a geometric pattern that serves as a visual representation of a unique identifier, much like a digital fingerprint. Originally popularized by GitHub and WordPress, identicons provide a way to visually distinguish users without requiring profile pictures. Each identicon is deterministic - the same input will always produce the same pattern, making them consistent and recognizable across platforms.

Tool description

This tool generates unique identicons based on username input using various cryptographic hashing algorithms. You can customize the appearance with custom foreground and background colors, and download the generated identicon in multiple image formats (PNG, JPEG, WebP). The tool uses cryptographic hashing to ensure each username produces a unique, consistent geometric pattern.

Features

  • Multiple hashing algorithms - Choose from MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, SHA-512, RIPEMD-160, and SHA-224
  • Customizable colors - Set custom foreground and background colors for personalized identicons
  • Random username generator - Generate random usernames instantly for testing
  • Multiple export formats - Download as PNG, JPEG, or WebP
  • Real-time preview - See your identicon update instantly as you type

Use cases

  • User profile placeholders - Generate default avatars for users who haven't uploaded profile pictures
  • Visual authentication - Create visual identifiers for quick user recognition in applications
  • Privacy-focused avatars - Generate avatars without requiring users to upload personal photos
  • Testing and development - Create consistent test user avatars for development environments
  • Blockchain and crypto applications - Generate visual representations of wallet addresses or transaction IDs

Supported hashing algorithms

The tool supports the following cryptographic hashing algorithms:

  • MD5 - Fast but less secure, 128-bit hash
  • SHA-1 - 160-bit hash, commonly used but deprecated for security
  • SHA-224 - 224-bit hash from the SHA-2 family
  • SHA-256 - 256-bit hash, industry standard for security
  • SHA-384 - 384-bit hash, higher security than SHA-256
  • SHA-512 - 512-bit hash, maximum security from SHA-2 family
  • RIPEMD-160 - 160-bit hash, alternative to SHA-1

Output formats

  • PNG - Lossless compression, best for sharp geometric patterns
  • JPEG - Lossy compression, smaller file size
  • WebP - Modern format with excellent compression and quality balance

How it works

  1. Enter a username or generate a random one
  2. Select your preferred hashing algorithm (default: SHA-256)
  3. Customize foreground and background colors
  4. Preview the generated identicon in real-time
  5. Choose your desired output format
  6. Download the identicon image