PHP Programming/Encryption

PHP provides several functions to encrypt data. Symmetrical encryption Storing passwords in clear (unencrypted), in a file or a database, constitutes a security breach. To be able to encrypt and decrypt them, a symmetrical encryption can be done by: openssl_encrypt()http://php.net/manual/en/function.openssl-encrypt.php openssl_decrypt() Asymmetrical encryption The asymmetrical encryption est used to check an identity, via a public and a private key. In PHP, it's done with: openssl_public_encrypt()https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.openssl-public-encrypt.php openssl_private_decrypt() Hashing crypt()http://php.net/manual/en/function.crypt.php is a hash function for a string, which can add a Salt (cryptography) salt as an optional second parameter. References