TypeScript/JavaScript implementation of LifeHash: A visual hash algorithm.
"Hello, world!"
version1 • version2 • detailed • fiducial • grayscale
LifeHash is a method of hash visualization based on Conway's Game of Life that creates beautiful icons that are deterministic, yet distinct and unique given the input data.
The basic concept is to take a SHA-256 hash of the input data (which can be any data including another hash) and then use the 256-bit digest as a 16x16 pixel "seed" for running the cellular automata known as Conway's Game of Life.
After the pattern becomes stable (or begins repeating) the resulting history is used to compile a grayscale image of all the states from the first to last generation. Using Game of Life provides visual structure to the resulting image, even though it was seeded with entropy.
Some bits of the initial hash are then used to deterministically apply symmetry and color to the icon to add beauty and quick recognizability.
Source: https://lifehash.info/
All five LifeHash versions are supported:
| Version | Grid | Output | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
version1 |
16x16 | 32x32 | Original version, HSB color gamut |
version2 |
16x16 | 32x32 | CMYK-safe colors (default, recommended) |
detailed |
32x32 | 64x64 | Higher resolution |
fiducial |
32x32 | 32x32 | No symmetry, for machine vision |
grayscale_fiducial |
32x32 | 32x32 | Grayscale, no symmetry |
Output is verified pixel-for-pixel against the reference C++ implementation test vectors.
npm install lifehash
import { LifeHash, LifeHashVersion } from 'lifehash';
const image = LifeHash.makeFrom('Hello, world!', LifeHashVersion.version2, 1, true);
image.toDataUrl(); // data:image/png;base64,...For more examples, check the examples folder or the tests.
This library exports one class called LifeHash.
class LifeHash {
static makeFrom(
data: string | Uint8Array,
version = LifeHashVersion.version2,
module_size = 1,
has_alpha = false,
): Image { /* */ }
static makeFromDigest(
digest: Uint8Array,
version = LifeHashVersion.version2,
module_size = 1,
has_alpha = false,
): Image { /* */ }
}npm install
npm testTest vectors are sourced from the reference implementation.
There is only 1 (non-dev) dependency:
- @noble/hashes — audited, minimal SHA-256 implementation
Currently, the following wallets support LifeHash:
The project setup has been inspired by multiple bitcoinjs libraries, such as bip39 and bip85.
Original C++ implementation: https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/bc-lifehash
This implementation is heavily inspired by https://github.com/BlockchainCommons/bc-lifehash-python
MIT