What are the advantages of using password_hash and password_verify functions over md5 for password handling in PHP?

Using password_hash and password_verify functions in PHP is more secure than using md5 for password handling because these functions utilize stronger hashing algorithms (such as bcrypt) that are specifically designed for securely hashing passwords. This helps protect against common vulnerabilities like brute force attacks and rainbow table attacks. Additionally, password_hash includes a built-in salt, making it more difficult for attackers to crack the hashed passwords.

// Hashing a password using password_hash
$password = "secretPassword";
$hashedPassword = password_hash($password, PASSWORD_DEFAULT);

// Verifying a password using password_verify
$enteredPassword = "secretPassword";
if (password_verify($enteredPassword, $hashedPassword)) {
    echo "Password is correct!";
} else {
    echo "Password is incorrect!";
}