PHP Password Hash Generator

Generate bcrypt, Argon2i, and Argon2id hashes fully compatible with PHP's password_hash() and password_verify().Powered by real cryptographic libraries (bcryptjs and hash-wasm/WebAssembly) — all processing stays in your browser.

Minimum 8 characters recommended. Password is never sent to a server.
Higher cost = slower but more secure. 10–12 is typical.
Quick examples:
Zero-knowledge: All hashing and strength analysis run locally via WebAssembly / JavaScript. Your password never touches our servers.

What Is PHP password_hash() and Why It Matters

PHP's password_hash() is the gold‑standard API for secure password storage in PHP applications. It abstracts away the complexities of salting, hashing, and algorithm selection, producing cryptographically strong hashes that resist brute‑force, rainbow table, and dictionary attacks. Since its introduction in PHP 5.5, it has become the de facto solution for authentication systems worldwide.

Key principle: A password hash is a one‑way transformation — you can generate a hash from a password, but you cannot reverse the hash to obtain the original password. Verification works by hashing the submitted password (with the same salt and parameters) and comparing the result to the stored hash.

Supported Algorithms in PHP

Algorithm Identifier PHP Version Key Features Recommendation
bcrypt PASSWORD_BCRYPT 5.5+ Blowfish‑based, cost‑adjustable, 72‑char limit, widely supported Good legacy choice
Argon2i PASSWORD_ARGON2I 7.2+ Data‑dependent memory‑hard, resistant to GPU/ASIC attacks Good for memory‑constrained environments
Argon2id PASSWORD_ARGON2ID 7.3+ Hybrid of Argon2i + Argon2d, best resistance to side‑channel and GPU attacks Recommended
PASSWORD_DEFAULT — 5.5+ Alias to strongest available algorithm (currently bcrypt, future Argon2) Safe for forward‑compatibility

Important: Never store passwords in plain text. Always use a cryptographically secure hashing algorithm with a unique salt per password. PHP's password_hash() automatically generates a secure random salt for each hash.

How This Tool Works

This tool is a full client‑side implementation of PHP's password hashing algorithms, using battle‑tested libraries:

  • bcrypt — bcryptjs (pure JavaScript).
  • Argon2i / Argon2id — hash-wasm (WebAssembly) which implements the RFC 9106 specification exactly.

All hashes are formatted identically to PHP's output and can be verified with password_verify() without any modification.

  1. Input your password — type or paste the password you want to hash.
  2. Choose an algorithm — select from bcrypt, Argon2i, or Argon2id (or use the default).
  3. Tune parameters — adjust cost factors, memory, and thread settings to match your security requirements.
  4. Generate the hash — the tool computes the hash and displays it along with strength analysis and performance metrics.
  5. Copy and use — copy the hash to your clipboard and use it in your PHP application with password_verify().

Understanding Hash Parameters

Cost Factor (bcrypt)

A logarithmic factor that determines the number of hashing rounds: 2cost. Higher cost = slower hashing = harder to brute‑force. Recommended range: 10–12 for general use, 14+ for high‑security environments.

Time & Memory (Argon2)

Time cost controls iterations; memory cost controls memory usage (in KB). Higher values increase resistance to GPU/ASIC attacks. Defaults: time=2, memory=65536 KB (64 MB).

Password Strength & Crack Time Estimation

This tool includes a real‑time password strength meter based on entropy estimation and pattern analysis. It evaluates:

  • Entropy — the amount of randomness in the password (bits).
  • Common patterns — dictionary words, keyboard sequences, repeated characters.
  • Length and character diversity — uppercase, lowercase, digits, symbols.

The estimated crack time is calculated using the zxcvbn algorithm (a battle‑tested password strength estimator by Dropbox), giving you a practical sense of how resistant your password is to modern attacks.

Pro tip: A password with 80+ bits of entropy (e.g., "CorrectHorseBatteryStaple!") is considered secure against all realistic brute‑force attacks. Use passphrases of 4+ random words for optimal security and memorability.

PHP Code Example: Verifying a Hash

Once you generate a hash with this tool, you can use it in your PHP application like this:

// Stored hash from the generator (copy & paste) $hash = '$2b$10$...'; // User‑submitted password $password = 'SecureP@ssw0rd!2025'; if (password_verify($password, $hash)) {     echo '✅ Password is valid!'; } else {     echo '❌ Invalid password.'; }

Real‑World Use Cases

  • Web Applications: Securely store user passwords in databases using password_hash() and verify with password_verify().
  • API Authentication: Hash API keys or client secrets before storage.
  • DevOps & CI/CD: Generate password hashes for automated deployment scripts or configuration files.
  • Security Audits: Test the strength of existing password policies and hash configurations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Argon2i uses data‑independent memory access, making it resistant to side‑channel attacks but slightly less resistant to GPU attacks. Argon2id is a hybrid — it uses Argon2i for the first half of the passes and Argon2d for the second, offering the best of both worlds. The Argon2id variant is recommended by the Password Hashing Competition (PHC) and by PHP's documentation for general use.

Yes. Both Laravel and Symfony use PHP's password_hash() under the hood. Any hash generated by this tool is compatible with Hash::check() in Laravel and PasswordEncoderInterface in Symfony, as long as you use the same algorithm and parameters.

This tool is safe for testing and development. However, for production systems, you should generate hashes on your server using PHP's password_hash() to ensure full control over the environment and to avoid any potential client‑side vulnerabilities. This tool is best used as an educational resource and for quick prototyping.

A salt is a random string added to the password before hashing. It ensures that the same password produces different hashes for different users, rendering pre‑computed rainbow tables useless. PHP's password_hash() automatically generates a cryptographically secure random salt for each hash, and the salt is stored within the hash itself for verification.

The strength meter uses the zxcvbn algorithm, which analyzes the password for common patterns, dictionary words, keyboard sequences, and repetitions. It then calculates the entropy and estimates the time required to crack the password using various attack strategies. The result is a score from 0 (very weak) to 4 (very strong) and an estimated crack time.

No. The cost factor (or time/memory parameters) is embedded in the hash string. To change the cost, you must generate a new hash with the updated parameters. In practice, you can periodically re‑hash user passwords when they log in, using a higher cost factor to increase security over time — a technique known as "password upgrading."
References: PHP Manual: password_hash(); RFC 9106 – Argon2; zxcvbn – Dropbox; Password Hashing Competition (PHC).
Verified against PHP 8.4 reference implementation. Uses real bcrypt (bcryptjs) and Argon2 (hash-wasm/WebAssembly). Last updated July 2026.