How to convert a byte array (MD5 hash) into a string (36 chars)?

Question

I\'ve got a byte array that was created using a hash function. I would like to convert this array into a string. So far so good, it will give me hexadecimal string.

Answer 1

you can use modulu. this example encode your byte array to string of [0-9][a-z]. change it if you want.

    public string byteToString(byte[] byteArr)
    {
        int i;
        char[] charArr = new char[byteArr.Length];
        for (i = 0; i < byteArr.Length; i++)
        {
            int byt = byteArr[i] % 36; // 36=num of availible charachters
            if (byt < 10)
            {
                charArr[i] = (char)(byt + 48); //if % result is a digit
            }
            else
            {
                charArr[i] = (char)(byt + 87); //if % result is a letter
            }
        }
        return new String(charArr);
    }

If you don't want to lose data for de-encoding you can use this example:

    public string byteToString(byte[] byteArr)
    {
        int i;
        char[] charArr = new char[byteArr.Length*2];
        for (i = 0; i < byteArr.Length; i++)
        {
            charArr[2 * i] = (char)((int)byteArr[i] / 36+48);
            int byt = byteArr[i] % 36; // 36=num of availible charachters
            if (byt < 10)
            {
                charArr[2*i+1] = (char)(byt + 48); //if % result is a digit
            }
            else
            {
                charArr[2*i+1] = (char)(byt + 87); //if % result is a letter
            }
        }
        return new String(charArr);
    }

and now you have a string double-lengthed when odd char is the multiply of 36 and even char is the residu. for example: 200=36*5+20 => "5k".