diff --git a/src/py/mat3ra/utils/__init__.py b/src/py/mat3ra/utils/__init__.py
index e6a4962..3de0935 100644
--- a/src/py/mat3ra/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/src/py/mat3ra/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
+from .hash import calculate_hash_from_object, calculate_hash_from_string
 from .search import find_by_key_or_regex
 from .string import camel_to_snake, snake_to_camel
diff --git a/src/py/mat3ra/utils/hash.py b/src/py/mat3ra/utils/hash.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d2e6429
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/py/mat3ra/utils/hash.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import hashlib
+import json
+import warnings
+from typing import Any, Optional
+
+
+def _sort_keys_deep(obj: Any) -> Any:
+    if isinstance(obj, dict):
+        return {key: _sort_keys_deep(obj[key]) for key in sorted(obj)}
+    if isinstance(obj, list):
+        return [_sort_keys_deep(item) for item in obj]
+    return obj
+
+
+def _get_hasher(hash_function: Optional[str]) -> Any:
+    algorithm = (hash_function or "md5").lower()
+    try:
+        return getattr(hashlib, algorithm)()
+    except (AttributeError, TypeError, ValueError):
+        if algorithm != "md5":
+            warnings.warn(f"Hash function '{hash_function}' unavailable. Falling back to MD5.", RuntimeWarning)
+        return hashlib.md5()
+
+
+def calculate_hash_from_string(message: str, hash_function: str = "md5") -> str:
+    """
+    Calculates hash of a given text.
+
+    Defaults to MD5 for parity with the legacy JS utilities and falls back to MD5 if the
+    requested algorithm is unavailable. Not intended for security-sensitive use or any
+    scenario where collision resistance matters.
+
+    Args:
+        message: Input text to hash.
+        hash_function: Hash function name. Falls back to MD5 if unavailable.
+
+    Returns:
+        str: Hex digest of the hashed message.
+    """
+    hasher = _get_hasher(hash_function)
+    hasher.update(message.encode())
+    return hasher.hexdigest()
+
+
+def calculate_hash_from_object(obj: Any, hash_function: str = "md5") -> str:
+    """
+    Calculates hash of a given object. It must be serializable.
+
+    Keys are sorted recursively before hashing to ensure deterministic output.
+
+    Args:
+        obj: Serializable object to hash.
+        hash_function: Hash function name. Falls back to MD5 if unavailable.
+
+    Returns:
+        str: Hex digest of the hashed object representation.
+    """
+    sorted_obj = _sort_keys_deep(obj)
+    message = json.dumps(sorted_obj, separators=(",", ":"), ensure_ascii=False)
+    return calculate_hash_from_string(message, hash_function)
diff --git a/tests/py/unit/test_hash.py b/tests/py/unit/test_hash.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..616d34d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/py/unit/test_hash.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import hashlib
+import json
+
+import pytest
+
+import mat3ra.utils.hash as hash_utils
+
+
+def test_calculate_hash_from_string_default_md5():
+    message = "hello world"
+    expected = hashlib.md5(message.encode()).hexdigest()
+    assert hash_utils.calculate_hash_from_string(message) == expected
+
+
+def test_calculate_hash_from_string_with_algorithm():
+    message = "hello world"
+    expected = hashlib.sha1(message.encode()).hexdigest()
+    assert hash_utils.calculate_hash_from_string(message, "sha1") == expected
+
+
+def test_calculate_hash_from_object_sorts_keys():
+    obj = {
+        "b": 1,
+        "a": {"d": 4, "c": 3},
+        "list": [{"y": 2, "x": 1}, 3],
+    }
+    sorted_obj = {"a": {"c": 3, "d": 4}, "b": 1, "list": [{"x": 1, "y": 2}, 3]}
+    expected_message = json.dumps(sorted_obj, separators=(",", ":"), ensure_ascii=False)
+    expected = hashlib.md5(expected_message.encode()).hexdigest()
+    assert hash_utils.calculate_hash_from_object(obj) == expected
+
+
+def test_calculate_hash_from_object_with_algorithm():
+    obj = {"b": 1, "a": 2}
+    expected_message = json.dumps({"a": 2, "b": 1}, separators=(",", ":"), ensure_ascii=False)
+    expected = hashlib.sha256(expected_message.encode()).hexdigest()
+    assert hash_utils.calculate_hash_from_object(obj, "sha256") == expected
+
+
+def test_calculate_hash_from_string_invalid_algorithm_falls_back_to_md5():
+    message = "fallback"
+    expected = hashlib.md5(message.encode()).hexdigest()
+    with pytest.warns(RuntimeWarning):
+        assert hash_utils.calculate_hash_from_string(message, "unknown") == expected
+
+
+def test_calculate_hash_from_object_invalid_algorithm_falls_back_to_md5():
+    obj = {"b": 1, "a": 2}
+    expected_message = json.dumps({"a": 2, "b": 1}, separators=(",", ":"), ensure_ascii=False)
+    expected = hashlib.md5(expected_message.encode()).hexdigest()
+    with pytest.warns(RuntimeWarning):
+        assert hash_utils.calculate_hash_from_object(obj, "unknown") == expected