Best Method for Hashing Passwords in PHP | Secure Password Storage with password_hash()

The most widely recommended and secure method for hashing passwords in PHP is the password_hash() function. This function uses the Bcrypt algorithm by default, providing strong security features that protect user data from attacks like brute-force and rainbow table attacks.

✅ Why is password_hash() the Best Choice?

• Default Security: Uses Bcrypt, a secure hashing algorithm specifically designed for password storage.

• Automatic Salting: It generates a unique salt for each password, further enhancing security.

• Easy to Use: Handles all the complexity of password hashing and salting internally, simplifying the process for developers.

• Adaptability: The cost factor can be adjusted, making it more resistant to future advances in computing power.

✅ Example of Using password_hash():

$password = "user_password123";
$hashedPassword = password_hash($password, PASSWORD_BCRYPT);
echo $hashedPassword; // Outputs the securely hashed password

✅ Verifying a Password:

To verify a password against a hashed one, PHP provides the password_verify() function:

if (password_verify($password, $hashedPassword)) {
    echo "Password is correct!";
} else {
    echo "Invalid password!";
}

❌ Why crypt() is Not Recommended for Password Hashing

The crypt() function in PHP supports algorithms like SHA-1, SHA-256, and MD5, but these hashing methods are no longer considered secure for password storage due to vulnerabilities such as:

• Brute-force attacks: SHA algorithms can be cracked easily with modern computing power.

• Rainbow table attacks: Precomputed hash values make it easier to reverse hashes.

• No automatic salting: Unlike Bcrypt, crypt() does not automatically create a unique salt for each password, which can compromise security.