Iterate Through Files and Generate File Hash (MD5 and SHA256) with Walrus Operator

MD5 and SHA256

This function code aids in the processing of files and calculation of corresponding hashes at a given path (recursively).

This code calculates either an MD5 and or SHA256 hash of a file and then returns one or more values. If processing is disabled (bool) for a given hash function, then return False.

An example “Walrus” statement is included to shorten the code and utilize newer Python 3 features.

Copy to Clipboard

def get_file_hash(input_file_path, md5=True, sha256=True):
    """Calculate a hash from a file.
    Returns hash calculated from the file.
    """
    file = input_file_path
    try:
        if os.path.exists(file):
            if md5:
                # without walrus operator
                # with open(file, "rb") as f:
                #     chunk = f.read(4096)
                #     sha256.update(chunk)
                md5 = hashlib.md5()
                f = open(file, 'rb')
                while chunk := f.read(4096):  # walrus operator
                    md5.update(chunk)
                md5_hash = md5.hexdigest().upper()
            else:
                md5_hash = False
            if sha256:
                sha256 = hashlib.sha256()
                f = open(file, 'rb')
                while chunk := f.read(4096):
                    sha256.update(chunk)
                sha256_hash = sha256.hexdigest().upper()
            else:
                sha256_hash = False
            return md5_hash, sha256_hash
        else:
            print(f"File does not exist at: {file}")
    except Exception as e:
        print(e)

Author
Recent Posts

Jesse Shelley

Technical Communicator at CyberTutorials.org at CyberTutorials.org

I have many years of experience as a criminal investigator, evidence custodian, IT administrator, and as an information security specialist.

I've performed dozens of digital forensic examinations on cases involving criminal matters such as murder, domestic terrorism, sexual assault, child exploitation, CSAM, CSEC, illegal wiretapping, bomb threats, kidnapping, military, corporate, and casework from alphabet agencies such as the FBI and DEA.

Iterate Through Files and Generate File Hash (MD5 and SHA256) with Walrus Operator