Why is using password_hash() and password_verify() recommended over traditional hash algorithms for password security in PHP?
Using password_hash() and password_verify() is recommended over traditional hash algorithms for password security in PHP because they provide a secure way to hash passwords using bcrypt, which is a strong hashing algorithm specifically designed for password hashing. This helps protect passwords from being easily cracked in case of a data breach. Additionally, password_hash() automatically generates a random salt for each password hash, making it more secure against rainbow table attacks.
// Hashing a password using password_hash()
$password = "mySecurePassword";
$hashedPassword = password_hash($password, PASSWORD_DEFAULT);
// Verifying a password using password_verify()
$enteredPassword = "mySecurePassword";
if (password_verify($enteredPassword, $hashedPassword)) {
echo "Password is correct!";
} else {
echo "Password is incorrect!";
}