PHP Authentication and Password Hashing for Beginners

A Practical Guide to Secure Login Systems with password_hash(), password_verify(), Sessions, and Best Practices

Master secure PHP authentication with password_hash(), password_verify(), and session management. Complete guide to building bulletproof login systems with modern security practices.

Author:

Category: PHP

Pages: 436

Language: English

Publication Date:

DSIN: TKNBN3YWR6E3

About This Book

Master Secure PHP Authentication from Beginner to Professional **PHP Authentication and Password Hashing for Beginners** is the definitive guide to building secure login systems using PHP's modern authentication capabilities. This comprehensive resource transforms complex security concepts into practical, implementable solutions that protect your applications and users. #### Why This Book Matters In an era where data breaches make headlines daily, secure authentication isn't optional—it's essential. This book addresses the critical gap between basic PHP tutorials and enterprise-level security, providing developers with the knowledge and tools to build authentication systems that withstand real-world threats. #### What Makes This Book Different Unlike generic security guides, this book focuses specifically on PHP's native authentication functions, particularly `password_hash()` and `password_verify()`. Every technique, code example, and security practice is designed for PHP developers who want to implement robust authentication without external dependencies or complex frameworks. #### Comprehensive Coverage for Real-World Applications Starting with fundamental security concepts, you'll learn why traditional password storage methods fail and how PHP's modern password hashing functions solve these critical vulnerabilities. The book progresses through complete authentication workflows, from user registration and login systems to advanced features like password reset functionality and brute force protection. Practical code examples demonstrate secure session management, proper error handling, and production-ready security configurations. Advanced chapters cover "Remember Me" functionality, rate limiting, and deployment security—ensuring your authentication system performs securely at scale. #### Proven Techniques for Modern PHP Development Each chapter builds upon established security principles while remaining accessible to developers at all levels. You'll master industry-standard practices including secure password policies, session security, CSRF protection, and security headers—all implemented using PHP's built-in capabilities. The book's practical approach means you'll have working, secure code that can be immediately implemented in your projects, while understanding the security principles that guide each implementation decision.

Quick Overview

Master secure PHP authentication with password_hash(), password_verify(), and session management. Complete guide to building bulletproof login systems with modern security practices.

Key Topics Covered

  • PHP password_hash() function
  • password_verify() implementation
  • secure session management
  • user registration systems
  • login authentication workflows
  • brute force attack prevention
  • password reset functionality
  • Remember Me features
  • production security configuration
  • authentication vulnerabilities prevention
  • security headers implementation
  • database security for user data

Who Should Read This Book

Beginning PHP developers, web developers building login systems, developers modernizing legacy authentication code, PHP programmers learning security best practices, developers seeking production-ready authentication solutions

Prerequisites

Basic PHP syntax knowledge, HTML fundamentals, MySQL/database basics, web server concepts, basic understanding of HTTP requests

Table of Contents

| Chapter | Title | Page | | ------- | --------------------------------------------- | ---- | | Intro | Introduction | 7 | | 1 | Introduction to Web Authentication | 23 | | 2 | The Problem with Plain Text Passwords | 44 | | 3 | Using password\\\_hash() for Secure Passwords | 69 | | 4 | Verifying Passwords with password\\\_verify() | 98 | | 5 | User Registration – Step by Step | 120 | | 6 | Building the Login System | 144 | | 7 | Sessions and Secure Authentication States | 169 | | 8 | Preventing Brute Force Attacks | 188 | | 9 | Remember Me Functionality (Optional) | 223 | | 10 | Password Reset Feature | 253 | | 11 | Securing Authentication in Production | 282 | | 12 | Putting It All Together | 312 | | App | PHP password functions quick reference | 344 | | App | .htaccess examples for added protection | 369 | | App | Common security headers for login pages | 393 | | App | Secure session config in php.ini | 423 |

About This Publication

**PHP Authentication and Password Hashing for Beginners** empowers PHP developers to create secure, professional-grade authentication systems using modern security practices and PHP's native password functions. Through 12 comprehensive chapters and practical appendices, you'll master every aspect of secure authentication—from basic password hashing with `password_hash()` to advanced security features like brute force protection and secure session management. Each concept is explained clearly with working code examples you can implement immediately. This book transforms complex security concepts into actionable knowledge, enabling you to build authentication systems that protect user data while maintaining excellent user experience. You'll learn to prevent common vulnerabilities, implement industry-standard security practices, and deploy secure authentication systems in production environments. By completion, you'll possess the expertise to build robust login systems that meet modern security standards, with deep understanding of both the technical implementation and underlying security principles that protect your applications and users.

Book Details

Format
PDF
File Size
2.2 MB
Chapters
12
Code Examples
99
Exercises
99
Difficulty Level
beginner
Reading Time
20-26

Special Features

• Step-by-step code examples for every authentication feature • Production-ready PHP code you can implement immediately • Comprehensive coverage of PHP's native password functions • Real-world security scenarios and vulnerability prevention • Complete authentication system from registration to logout • Security configuration examples for production deployment • Quick reference appendices for PHP password functions • .htaccess examples for additional server-side protection • Security headers configuration for enhanced protection • Secure session configuration examples and best practices

Related Books in PHP

Get This Book

Price: 9.99 EUR

Popular Technical Articles & Tutorials

Explore our comprehensive collection of technical articles, programming tutorials, and IT guides written by industry experts:

Browse all 8+ technical articles | Read our IT blog

PHP Authentication and Password Hashing for Beginners