How can PHP developers enhance password security by utilizing AES_ENCRYPT() and AES_DECRYPT() functions in MySQL?

PHP developers can enhance password security by utilizing the AES_ENCRYPT() and AES_DECRYPT() functions in MySQL to encrypt and decrypt passwords stored in the database. This adds an extra layer of security by ensuring that passwords are not stored in plain text format, making it harder for potential attackers to access sensitive information.

// Encrypt password before storing in the database
$password = 'mySecurePassword';
$encryptedPassword = mysqli_real_escape_string($conn, AES_ENCRYPT('$password', 'encryption_key'));
$sql = "INSERT INTO users (username, password) VALUES ('john_doe', '$encryptedPassword')";
mysqli_query($conn, $sql);

// Decrypt password when retrieving from the database
$sql = "SELECT AES_DECRYPT(password, 'encryption_key') AS decrypted_password FROM users WHERE username = 'john_doe'";
$result = mysqli_query($conn, $sql);
$row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($result);
$decryptedPassword = $row['decrypted_password'];