How to Hash Passwords in Node.js Using Bcryptjs, Express and Mongoose
Introduction Storing plaintext passwords in a database is one of the most critical security vulnerabilities a web application can have. If a database is compromised, every user account is instantly exposed. To protect user credentials, modern backend applications rely on secure cryptographic hashing functions like bcrypt . In this tutorial, we will walk through how to build a secure user registration and login API in Node.js using Express, Mongoose, and bcryptjs . What is Bcrypt? Bcrypt is a password-hashing function designed by Niels Provos and David Mazières, based on the Blowfish cipher, and introduced at USENIX in 1999. Built-in Salt Protection: Bcrypt automatically incorporates a salt (random data) into the hashing process to protect against rainbow table attacks. Adaptive Work Factor: It is an adaptive function, meaning the iteration count (cost factor) can be increased over time to keep pace with growing computer processing power, making it highly resistant to ...