How to Use SHA-256 Hash in Google Sheets

If your reading this blog, chances are you’re curious about how to SHA-256 some data in Google Sheets?

It might sound all fancy, but it’s nothing more than a clever way to turn a bit of text or numbers into a unique string of characters – proper handy if you’re working with passwords or secure data, or Google Ads Offline Conversion Tracking.

Now, if you’r struggling, don’t worry – I’ll take you through it nice ‘n steady.

Whether you’re a spreadsheet whizz or just having a dabble, by the end of this, you’ll be hashing away like there’s no tomorrow. Let’s crack on, shall we?

Here’s how you can do it:

Steps to Create a Custom SHA-256 Function in Google Sheets

To compute a SHA-256 hash in Google Sheets, you can't use a built-in function, but you can create a custom function using Google Apps Script.

1. Open Google Sheets:
   • Open the Google Sheets where you want to use the SHA-256 function.
2. Open the Script Editor:
   • Click on Extensions in the top menu.
   • Then select Apps Script.
3. Write the SHA-256 Function:
   • Delete the default function in the script editor, and replace it with the following code:

function sha256(data) {
const hash = Utilities.computeDigest(Utilities.DigestAlgorithm.SHA_256, data);
return hash.map(function(byte) {
return ('0' + (byte & 0xFF).toString(16)).slice(-2);
}).join('');
}

1. Save the Script:
   • Click the disk icon (or press Ctrl + S) to save.
   • You can name your project if prompted (e.g., "SHA256 Function").
2. Use the Function in Your Google Sheet:
   • Go back to your Google Sheets.Now, you can use the custom sha256 function in your sheet like a regular function.
   Example: =sha256(A1) Where A1 is the cell containing the data you want to hash.

This will return the SHA-256 hash of the data in the specified cell.

Good luck!

---