XOR-8 Checksum
Calculate an 8-bit block check character by XORing every UTF-8 input byte.
Description
Calculate XOR-8 Checksum over UTF-8 text and display the result as uppercase hexadecimal.
XOR-8 Checksum is intended for interoperability and accidental-error detection. XOR-8 combines every byte with bitwise exclusive OR. It detects some simple bit changes but misses many multi-bit error patterns.1
When to use XOR-8 Checksum
Use this checksum only when a file format, device, protocol, or published test vector specifies the same named profile and parameters. Profiles with the same width can still produce unrelated results.
How XOR-8 Checksum works
XOR-8 combines every byte with bitwise exclusive OR. It detects some simple bit changes but misses many multi-bit error patterns.1
How the XOR-8 function processes input
- Encode the entered text as UTF-8 bytes.
- Process the bytes with the selected algorithm and its exact parameters.
- Render the result in the canonical textual form shown by the tool.
Limitations and assumptions
- Checksums are not collision-resistant and must not be used as digital signatures or security proofs.
- Text is encoded as UTF-8; a checksum over a file's raw bytes can differ.
- Every CRC parameter—including reflection and initialization—must match the other implementation.
Alternative or Complementary approaches
Use a cryptographic hash such as SHA-256 when malicious modification is in scope. Use the custom CRC calculator when a documented profile is not available as a preset.
References
-
Block check character — Wikipedia contributors
Similar or alternative tools
- CRC-32 Checksum
Use the common ISO-HDLC CRC-32 profile.
- SHA-256 Hash Generator
Use a cryptographic digest for adversarial integrity.