What is Crypto.js Used For? Learn in This Complete Guide

2025-07-16

What is CryptoJS used for? Is it still maintained? How do you install and use it, even in TypeScript? Learn more about it here!

This guide offers a clear, practical look at CryptoJS, helping you understand what it does, how safe it is, and how you can use it effectively in your projects.

What is Crypto.js?

what is crypto.js used for.

CryptoJS is a JavaScript library that offers a range of standard and secure cryptographic algorithms. It is designed to be easy to use while following secure coding practices.

With a consistent interface, CryptoJS lets developers perform operations such as encryption, decryption, hashing, and HMAC generation directly in JavaScript.

This has made it popular for use in browsers and Node.js environments where built-in cryptographic functionality may not always be straightforward to implement.

Originally, CryptoJS provided a way to use secure cryptographic techniques in JavaScript before native browsers and Node.js Crypto APIs became widely available.

It has been especially valued for tasks like securing API calls, storing encrypted data locally, and verifying message integrity.

What is Crypto.js Used For?

CryptoJS is primarily used to implement secure cryptographic operations in JavaScript applications. Developers use it for:

Hashing: Generating hashes of data using algorithms such as SHA256, SHA512, and MD5.
Encryption and Decryption: Encrypting and decrypting text or objects using AES or other symmetric algorithms.
HMAC Generation: Producing keyed-hash message authentication codes to ensure message integrity.
Password-Based Key Derivation: Using PBKDF2 to derive secure keys from passwords.

These operations are important for tasks such as API request signing, securely storing passwords, and ensuring data integrity in transit. Many developers have relied on CryptoJS because it offers these features in a way that works across different JavaScript environments.

Is CryptoJS Discontinued?

It is important to note that active development of CryptoJS has been discontinued. According to its maintainers, the library is no longer being actively maintained. This does not mean it is immediately unusable, but it does have significant implications:

Security risks: Older versions of CryptoJS had known issues, such as weak default parameters in PBKDF2 that used insecure SHA1 with low iteration counts, making brute-force attacks easier.
Maintenance status: The library is no longer updated to address new vulnerabilities or modern JavaScript changes.
Recommended alternatives: The maintainers suggest using the native crypto module in Node.js or the Web Crypto API in browsers, which are actively maintained and generally more secure.

Because of this, developers should be cautious when deciding whether to rely on CryptoJS for new projects. It is best suited for legacy support or learning purposes.

How To Install Crypto.js

Despite being discontinued, CryptoJS is still available as an npm package. To install it in a Node.js project, use:

npm install crypto-js

For browser use, you can include it using Bower (though Bower itself is deprecated) or by directly linking the library in your HTML file:

When installing for use in TypeScript projects, you may also want to install type definitions manually if needed, as CryptoJS does not provide official TypeScript types. Developers often use community-maintained types or write their own.

How To Use Crypto.js

Using CryptoJS in your project is straightforward. Below are practical examples for Node.js and browser contexts.

Using CryptoJS in Node.js

Install the package first:

npm install crypto-js

Hashing Example:

const SHA256 = require('crypto-js/sha256');

console.log(SHA256("Hello, World!").toString());

AES Encryption and Decryption:

const CryptoJS = require('crypto-js');

const ciphertext = CryptoJS.AES.encrypt('my message', 'secret key 123').toString();

const bytes = CryptoJS.AES.decrypt(ciphertext, 'secret key 123');

const originalText = bytes.toString(CryptoJS.enc.Utf8);

console.log(originalText); // 'my message'

HMAC Generation:

const HmacSHA512 = require('crypto-js/hmac-sha512');

const Base64 = require('crypto-js/enc-base64');

const hmacDigest = Base64.stringify(HmacSHA512("message", "secret"));

console.log(hmacDigest);

Using CryptoJS in the Browser

With Script Tag:

var encrypted = CryptoJS.AES.encrypt('Hello', 'secret').toString();

var decrypted = CryptoJS.AES.decrypt(encrypted, 'secret').toString(CryptoJS.enc.Utf8);

console.log(decrypted); // 'Hello'

</script>

How to Use Crypto.js in TypeScript

Though CryptoJS does not officially provide TypeScript types, you can still use it in TypeScript projects. Developers typically import it as follows:

import * as CryptoJS from 'crypto-js';

const hash = CryptoJS.SHA256('Hello, TypeScript').toString();

console.log(hash);

To improve type safety, consider writing type declarations for the parts of the API you use most.

Conclusion

CryptoJS has played a significant role in enabling secure cryptographic operations in JavaScript projects. It offers a wide range of features, from hashing to encryption, with a consistent API that is easy to learn.

However, active development has been discontinued, and known security issues in older versions highlight the need for caution. For new projects, using the native crypto module in Node.js or the Web Crypto API in browsers is strongly recommended.

Still, CryptoJS remains a valuable learning tool and may be suitable for legacy systems where immediate migration is impractical.

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FAQ

Is CryptoJS being discontinued?

Yes, active development of CryptoJS has been discontinued, and the library is no longer maintained. Modern browsers and Node.js now have built-in Crypto modules, which the latest version of CryptoJS already uses for things like random number generation.

What is CryptoJS used for?

CryptoJS is a collection of standard and secure cryptographic algorithms (like encryption methods) that are implemented in JavaScript. It's known for being fast and having a simple, consistent way to use it.

What does CryptoJS HMAC-SHA256 do?

CryptoJS's HMAC-SHA256 feature is a cryptographic algorithm that adds an extra layer of protection to stored passwords. It's often used with PBKDF2 to make sure that even if password hashes are compromised, they are still secure.

How do I decrypt using CryptoJS?

To decrypt using CryptoJS, you typically need to install the CryptoJS package (often via your package.json file if using Node.js). Then, in your code, you can use the library to decrypt your data with the secret key that was used for encryption.

Crypto

Disclaimer: The content of this article does not constitute financial or investment advice.

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