What are the best practices for handling password hashing and authentication when syncing user accounts between a website and a forum in PHP?

When syncing user accounts between a website and a forum in PHP, it is essential to ensure that password hashing algorithms are consistent across both platforms to maintain security. One approach is to use a secure hashing algorithm like bcrypt for password storage and authentication. Additionally, it is recommended to implement a secure authentication process that verifies user credentials during the syncing process.

// Example code snippet for syncing user accounts with consistent password hashing

// Function to hash passwords using bcrypt
function hashPassword($password) {
    $options = ['cost' => 12];
    return password_hash($password, PASSWORD_BCRYPT, $options);
}

// Function to verify password using bcrypt
function verifyPassword($password, $hashedPassword) {
    return password_verify($password, $hashedPassword);
}

// Example usage
$password = "securepassword123";
$hashedPassword = hashPassword($password);

// Verify password
if (verifyPassword($password, $hashedPassword)) {
    echo "Password is correct";
} else {
    echo "Password is incorrect";
}