How can I handle and store user passwords securely in my web application?
Storing user passwords securely in a web application is crucial to protect user accounts from unauthorized access. One of the best practices is to hash and salt passwords before storing them in the database. This involves using cryptographic algorithms to convert passwords into a fixed-length string of characters that cannot be reversed. Additionally, using a unique salt for each password adds an extra layer of security by preventing attackers from easily cracking the passwords using rainbow tables or precomputed hashes.