Frequently asked questions
Is the generation actually random, and how random?
Yes. Every draw comes from crypto.getRandomValues, the operating system CSPRNG that browsers use for TLS and WebAuthn key generation, and the sampler rejects biased residues so all characters are equally likely. The entropy figure on the page is the exact bits of randomness in the result — not a marketing score.
Why is the minimum length 8?
NIST SP 800-63B sets 8 characters as the minimum length for memorized secrets, and OWASP guidance agrees that length is the dominant factor in password strength. The generator refuses to produce weaker values, which is the honest behavior for a tool that reports entropy.
Are my passwords sent anywhere?
No. Generation happens entirely in your browser — the tool makes no network requests, uploads nothing, and stores nothing. A generated password exists in memory on your device until you copy it and close the page.
What does "exclude ambiguous characters" remove?
The characters people misread and mistype: 0, O, 1, l, I and the symbols |, ", ', and backtick. Excluding them slightly shrinks the charset (and thus entropy), but makes a printed or dictated password far less error-prone — the trade-off is yours to make, and the entropy figure reflects it honestly.
Why is there no strength meter?
Most strength meters are arbitrary scores with little relationship to how passwords are actually attacked. This tool shows the real quantity — entropy in bits — so you can compare configurations (length 16 with symbols versus length 20 without) on honest arithmetic.