Are there specific PHP functions or methods that should be used to hash passwords before storing them in the database?

When storing passwords in a database, it is crucial to hash them securely to protect user data. PHP provides built-in functions like password_hash() and password_verify() that are recommended for hashing passwords. These functions use strong hashing algorithms like bcrypt to securely hash passwords and verify them during login.

// Hashing a password before storing it in the database
$password = "user_password";
$hashed_password = password_hash($password, PASSWORD_DEFAULT);

// Storing the hashed password in the database
// INSERT INTO users (username, password) VALUES ('user', '$hashed_password');