To securely store and retrieve passwords in PHP applications, follow best practices such as using the password_hash() function to hash passwords before storing them in your database. This function uses a strong hashing algorithm (currently bcrypt) and automatically generates a unique salt for each password, protecting against common attacks like rainbow table attacks. When retrieving passwords, use the password_verify() function to compare the stored hash with the user-provided password, ensuring a secure and reliable authentication process. Additionally, consider implementing other security measures such as HTTPS to encrypt data in transit and regularly updating your PHP version and libraries to protect against vulnerabilities.
