How can PHP developers implement a secure authentication system without storing passwords in plaintext or using insecure methods?

To implement a secure authentication system without storing passwords in plaintext or using insecure methods, PHP developers can use password hashing functions like `password_hash()` to securely store passwords and `password_verify()` to validate them during login. 

// Registering a new user
$password = $_POST['password'];
$hashed_password = password_hash($password, PASSWORD_DEFAULT);

// Storing $hashed_password in the database

// Authenticating a user during login
$entered_password = $_POST['password'];
$stored_password = 'hashed_password_retrieved_from_database';

if (password_verify($entered_password, $stored_password)) {
    // Passwords match, user is authenticated
} else {
    // Passwords do not match, authentication failed
}

Keywords

password hashing bcrypt password_verify password_hash secure authentication

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