As already announced at the site itself, the MD5 and SHA1 encoders at mainframe8 support the use of custom browser search engines for quite a while now. This means you can MD5/SHA1 encode strings directly from the browser!
Screenshot of an MD5 encoding option integrated to the Mozilla Firefox browser
Technical background
We don’t rely on the old Sherlock standard but used the up-to-date OpenSearch definition. Sherlock has been Mozilla specific while the A9 OpenSearch Standard is now supported by all major browser vendors (Microsoft, Mozilla and -as far as i know- Google). Sorry to say Apple’s Safari and Opera seem to deny to adopt OpenSearch functionality yet. Don’t worry, i plan to write a blog article on how to add custom search functionality to Opera and Safari later.
How to install the encoder functionality
By far the most simple way is to enter the encoder sites (MD5/SHA1) and to click on the link in the green news box:
News on the MD5 encoder that includes the possibility to integrate the MD5 encoder into the browser
This will add the encoder functionality to the browser by using a javascript function. You are free to repeat this step for each encoder you need. On each site there is a link for the specific encoder.
Another way to incorporate the encoder into the browser is by using the autodiscovery function of the browser itself. Every opensearch enabled tool by mainframe8 identifies itself as a possible browser search plugin. Smart browsers such as Firefox v2/v3 and (hard to say that 
) Internet Explorer v7/v8 will check that identification and display it to the user.
Mozilla Firefox browser pointing to a custom search enabled website
To integrate the encoding functionality you are required to click on the higlighted/backlighted icon of your default search engine. The browser then gives you the opportunity to integrate it by using a simple dialog.
The Microsoft Internet Explorer behaves similiar:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 browser pointing to a custom search enabled website
How to use the encoder functionality
Now that you have integrated the custom “search” engine to the browser of your choice you can start using it. Here is an example usage of the MD5 integration into the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7:
Encoding MD5 digest directly from the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 browser
- Use the drop-down button of the installed search engines
- Choose the appropriate encoder (here: MD5)
- Enter your string to hash into the input box and press enter
You will see the digest of your message instantly. Happy converting real text strings to hashes! 
MD5 and SHA1 encoder plugins for major browsers
As already announced at the site itself, the MD5 and SHA1 encoders at mainframe8 support the use of custom browser search engines for quite a while now. This means you can MD5/SHA1 encode strings directly from the browser!
Screenshot of an MD5 encoding option integrated to the Mozilla Firefox browser
Technical background
We don’t rely on the old Sherlock standard but used the up-to-date OpenSearch definition. Sherlock has been Mozilla specific while the A9 OpenSearch Standard is now supported by all major browser vendors (Microsoft, Mozilla and -as far as i know- Google). Sorry to say Apple’s Safari and Opera seem to deny to adopt OpenSearch functionality yet. Don’t worry, i plan to write a blog article on how to add custom search functionality to Opera and Safari later.
How to install the encoder functionality
By far the most simple way is to enter the encoder sites (MD5/SHA1) and to click on the link in the green news box:
News on the MD5 encoder that includes the possibility to integrate the MD5 encoder into the browser
This will add the encoder functionality to the browser by using a javascript function. You are free to repeat this step for each encoder you need. On each site there is a link for the specific encoder.
Another way to incorporate the encoder into the browser is by using the autodiscovery function of the browser itself. Every opensearch enabled tool by mainframe8 identifies itself as a possible browser search plugin. Smart browsers such as Firefox v2/v3 and (hard to say that
) Internet Explorer v7/v8 will check that identification and display it to the user.
Mozilla Firefox browser pointing to a custom search enabled website
To integrate the encoding functionality you are required to click on the higlighted/backlighted icon of your default search engine. The browser then gives you the opportunity to integrate it by using a simple dialog.
The Microsoft Internet Explorer behaves similiar:
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 browser pointing to a custom search enabled website
How to use the encoder functionality
Now that you have integrated the custom “search” engine to the browser of your choice you can start using it. Here is an example usage of the MD5 integration into the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7:
Encoding MD5 digest directly from the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 browser
You will see the digest of your message instantly. Happy converting real text strings to hashes!