In what scenarios is it recommended to use strtolower() in conjunction with hash functions in PHP, and what benefits does this provide for password security?

When storing passwords in a database, it is recommended to use strtolower() in conjunction with hash functions in PHP to ensure case insensitivity. This helps prevent login issues that may arise due to differences in letter casing. By converting the password to lowercase before hashing it, you ensure that the comparison during login authentication is consistent and accurate.

$password = "Password123";
$hashedPassword = password_hash(strtolower($password), PASSWORD_DEFAULT);