This question already has an answer here: Converting String to long in Java 5 answers I have a String value and I would like to init a random class using the string as a seed? Is it possible to do this, and if so how? UPDATE 1: The string consists not only of ASCII. I can have any utf-8 symbols. UPDATE 2: Why did you close it? The questions really aren't about the same. Firstly because I've utf8 string and secondary because different strings can produce same seeds