Adler32 Checksum Calculator
Calculate Adler-32 checksum of any text string with step-by-step computation trace, hexadecimal/decimal/binary output formats, and A/B component breakdown.
Adler-32 Checksum Calculator
Fast checksum computation for data integrity verification. Used in zlib, PNG, and PDF formats.
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About Adler32 Checksum Calculator
Welcome to the Adler-32 Checksum Calculator, a fast and efficient tool for computing Adler-32 checksums of text strings. Adler-32 is a checksum algorithm widely used in data compression and integrity verification, offering an excellent balance between computation speed and error detection capability.
What is Adler-32?
Adler-32 is a checksum algorithm invented by Mark Adler in 1995 as part of the zlib compression library. It produces a 32-bit checksum value by computing two 16-bit sums (commonly called A and B) and combining them. The algorithm prioritizes speed over the error detection strength of CRC algorithms, making it ideal for applications where fast integrity checking is more important than detecting all possible errors.
How Adler-32 Works
The Adler-32 algorithm maintains two running sums:
- Sum A: Starts at 1 and accumulates the sum of all bytes
- Sum B: Starts at 0 and accumulates the sum of all intermediate A values
Both sums are computed modulo 65521, which is the largest prime number less than 216. The final checksum combines B and A as: (B << 16) | A
65521 is the largest prime smaller than 216 (65536). Using a prime modulus ensures better distribution of checksum values and reduces the probability of collisions, where different inputs produce the same checksum.
Adler-32 vs CRC-32 Comparison
| Feature | Adler-32 | CRC-32 |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Faster (simple arithmetic) | Slower (polynomial division) |
| Error Detection | Good for random errors | Better for burst errors |
| Output Size | 32 bits | 32 bits |
| Primary Use | zlib, PNG, PDF | Network protocols, storage |
| Weakness | Poor for short messages | More CPU intensive |
Common Applications
- zlib Compression: Adler-32 is the integrity check algorithm used in zlib-compressed data streams
- PNG Images: PNG files use zlib compression, which includes Adler-32 checksums
- PDF Documents: Many PDF streams are zlib-compressed with Adler-32 verification
- HTTP Compression: gzip/deflate content encoding uses Adler-32
- Data Synchronization: rsync uses Adler-32 for fast block comparison
Algorithm Steps
- Initialize: Set A = 1 and B = 0
- Process each byte: For each byte D in the data:
- A = (A + D) mod 65521
- B = (B + A) mod 65521
- Combine: Checksum = (B × 65536) + A = (B << 16) | A
Security Considerations
Important: Adler-32 is NOT a cryptographic hash function and should never be used for security purposes. It's designed only for error detection, not for:
- Password hashing
- Digital signatures
- Data authentication
- Tamper detection against malicious attacks
For security applications, use cryptographic hash functions like SHA-256, SHA-3, or BLAKE3.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Adler-32 checksum?
Adler-32 is a checksum algorithm invented by Mark Adler in 1995. It produces a 32-bit checksum from input data by computing two 16-bit sums (A and B) modulo 65521. It's faster than CRC-32 but less reliable for detecting certain error patterns, making it ideal for applications prioritizing speed over error detection precision.
How is Adler-32 calculated?
Adler-32 maintains two sums: A (initialized to 1) and B (initialized to 0). For each byte, A = (A + byte) mod 65521, and B = (B + A) mod 65521. The final checksum is (B << 16) | A, combining both sums into a 32-bit value.
What is Adler-32 used for?
Adler-32 is primarily used in the zlib compression library and formats using zlib (PNG, PDF, HTTP compression). It's used for fast data integrity verification where speed matters more than cryptographic security.
What is the difference between Adler-32 and CRC-32?
Adler-32 is faster to compute but has weaker error detection than CRC-32. Adler-32 uses simple addition operations while CRC-32 uses polynomial division. CRC-32 can detect more error patterns and is better for detecting burst errors. Adler-32 is preferred when speed is critical.
Why does Adler-32 use 65521?
65521 is the largest prime number smaller than 216 (65536). Using a prime modulus ensures better distribution of checksum values and reduces collision probability. The 16-bit constraint allows A and B sums to each fit in 16 bits, combining into a 32-bit result.
Additional Resources
Reference this content, page, or tool as:
"Adler32 Checksum Calculator" at https://MiniWebtool.com/adler32-checksum-calculator/ from MiniWebtool, https://MiniWebtool.com/
by miniwebtool team. Updated: Jan 27, 2026
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