Password hashing with bcrypt

Learn how to enhance the security of your Next.js applications by implementing password hashing with bcrypt. This guide covers the essentials of setting up bcrypt, hashing passwords, and verifying hashed passwords in a Next.js project.

Hashing Passwords in Next.js using bcrypt

When building web applications, securing user passwords is paramount. Instead of storing passwords as plain text, which poses significant security risks, you should hash them using a reliable hashing algorithm. This post will guide you through the process of hashing passwords in a Next.js application using bcrypt.

What is bcrypt?

bcrypt is a popular password hashing function designed to be computationally intensive, making it difficult for attackers to crack passwords using brute-force attacks. It is widely used in web applications to securely store user passwords.

Install bcrypt by running this command:

npm install bcrypt

Creating the Hashing Function

Choose the file where you want to put your function and paste this code:

import bcrypt from "bcrypt";

export async function hashPassword(password: string): Promise<string> {
	// the bigger the number, the more secure the password
	const salt = await bcrypt.genSalt(10);
	const hashedPassword = await bcrypt.hash(password, salt);

	return hashedPassword;
}

export async function comparePassword(
	hashedPassword: string,
	plainTextPassword: string
): Promise<string> {
	return bcrypt.compare(hashedPassword, plainTextPassword);
}

Conclusion

Hashing passwords with bcrypt in a Next.js application is straightforward. By following the steps outlined in this post, you can ensure that your users' passwords are stored securely. Remember, security is an ongoing process, and it's essential to stay informed about best practices and emerging threats.

Happy coding!