How can PHP developers ensure the secure storage and verification of passwords while querying a database for user authentication?

To ensure secure storage and verification of passwords while querying a database for user authentication, PHP developers should use password hashing functions like password_hash() and password_verify(). When storing passwords in the database, always hash them using password_hash() and when verifying passwords during authentication, use password_verify() to compare the hashed password with the user input.

// Storing password securely
$hashed_password = password_hash($password, PASSWORD_DEFAULT);

// Verifying password during authentication
if (password_verify($input_password, $hashed_password)) {
    // Password is correct
} else {
    // Password is incorrect
}