What does password hashing achieve?

Password hashing is a technique that transforms plain text passwords into a fixed-size string, often referred to as a hash. This process helps ensure that the actual passwords are not stored directly in a database, thereby enhancing security.

When a password is hashed, it passes through a mathematical algorithm that generates a unique output (the hash). This output is always the same length, regardless of the length of the input password. The primary purpose of this transformation is to prevent unauthorized access to users' passwords even if the database is compromised. When users log in, their entered password is hashed using the same algorithm and compared to the stored hash to verify their identity.

This method effectively safeguards passwords, as even a minor change in the input will produce a vastly different hash due to the nature of hashing algorithms. Hashing is a one-way operation, meaning that it is computationally infeasible to convert the hash back to the original password. This characteristic significantly enhances security compared to other methods like encryption, where decryption could potentially expose passwords.

The other options do not accurately reflect the main purpose of password hashing: creating backups, encrypting passwords for secure storage, or aiding in recovery do not capture the essence of what hashing achieves. Hashing primarily focuses on transforming passwords into fixed