Altaf Ahmed

MD5 vs SHA-256: which hash function should you use?

MD5 is broken — stop using it for security MD5 was deprecated for cryptographic use in 2004 when researchers demonstrated collision attacks. Today, MD5 collisions can be computed in seconds on consu...

CSS glassmorphism: the complete implementation guide

The four CSS properties that create glassmorphism Glassmorphism is the frosted-glass UI style popularized by iOS and Windows 11. It requires exactly four things working together: A coloured backgroun...

JSON formatting best practices for API responses

Consistent naming saves hours of integration debugging Pick one convention and stick to it across your entire API. The three options: snake_case: user_id, created_at — standard in Python/Rails/Lara...

The developer's guide to image compression ratios

Format first, compression second Picking the right format has more impact than any compression setting: FormatBest forBrowser support JPEGPhotos, complex scenesUniversal PNGScreenshots, transparency...

How to generate a cryptographically secure password (and why most tools don't)

Math.random() is not secure — and many password generators use it Math.random() in JavaScript is a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG). Its output is deterministic — given the same seed, it prod...

When to use Base64 encoding vs. encryption — and the fastest online converter

Base64 is not encryption — and confusing them is a security bug Every week developers ship code that treats Base64 as a privacy mechanism. It isn't. Base64 is a reversible encoding scheme that conve...

JWT decoded: what's actually inside your auth tokens

A JWT is three Base64URL strings joined by dots Split any JWT on its dots and you get three parts: header.payload.signature. The header and payload are just Base64URL-encoded JSON — you can decode t...

HEX, RGB, HSL: the complete guide to CSS color formats

The four CSS color formats every developer should know HEX (#rrggbb) The most common format. Each pair of hex digits represents red, green, and blue on a 0–255 scale. #ff0000 is pure red. The 3-dig...

Modern UI Design Trends: Glassmorphism, Neumorphism, and Claymorphism - A Complete Guide

In the ever-evolving landscape of web and app design, three striking visual trends have captured the attention of designers worldwide: glassmorphism, neumorphism, and claymorphism. These design s...