Easy PHP Projects: Password Utilities

These quick and easy PHP projects help you build password generators and password strength meters for more secure sites and applications.

This installment of Easy PHP Projects shows how to create password generators and strength meters for PHP websites and applications. Like other courses in the series, it presents small-scale PHP projects for PHP beginners and experienced developers looking to practice their skills. Series author Kevin Skoglund shows how to build a password generator that randomizes strings; a more user-friendly generator that combines random dictionary words and numbers; and a color-coded strength meter that tests passwords on factors such as character variation and length.

Introduction

• Welcome
• Using the exercise files

1. Password Generator

• About character sets
• Create a character set
• Select a random character
• Build a randomized string
• Allowing configuration
• Using a form for configuration
• Function options

2. Readable Password Generator

• Secure passwords vs. friendly passwords
• Create a dictionary
• Merge dictionaries
• Choose random words
• Add random numbers and symbols
• Specify password length

3. Password Strength Meter

• What is a strong password?
• Create a ration function
• Rating use of character cases
• Rating use of numbers and symbols
• Rate password length
• Display a color strength meter

Conclusion

• Next steps