bcrypt hash generator

This tool accepts plaintext input and a selectable cost factor to produce a bcrypt hash, enabling quick evaluation of hashing parameters for secure credential storage.
Conceptually, bcrypt uses a salt and a computational cost to expand the input and perform many rounds, yielding a hash string that encodes version, cost, salt, and hash. The tool mirrors this process so users can experiment with different salts and costs while observing resulting hashes in a controlled environment.
Beneficiaries include developers, security engineers, and QA teams who need deterministic, reproducible results for testing and auditing credential handling. Unique value lies in immediate, parameterized hashing with clear outputs (hash, salt, cost) and options for fixed or random salts. Core features encompass input validation, a sensible default cost (12), optional salt handling, and standard bcrypt formatting for easy verification in downstream systems.
Use cases span testing password-hashing strategies, profiling performance at various cost factors, and validating integration points where bcrypt hashes are stored or compared.