bcryptjs questions

Bcryptjs is a JavaScript library that implements the Bcrypt password hashing algorithm, which is used to securely store passwords in Node.js applications: 

Here's an overview of its key methods and properties along with examples:
const bcrypt = require('bcryptjs');
const plaintextPassword = 'mysecretpassword';

bcrypt.hash(plaintextPassword, 10, (err, hash) => {
    if (err) {
        console.error('Error while hashing:', err);
    } else {
        console.log('Hashed password:', hash);
        // Store `hash` in database for user
    }
});

Yes, BcryptJS is suitable for modern applications due to its strong security features and adaptability. Its resistance to common attacks makes it a reliable choice for password hashing. Additionally, it integrates easily with Node.js applications, ensuring secure user authentication practices.

Common pitfalls include using too low salt rounds, which makes passwords vulnerable, or failing to handle errors properly in asynchronous operations. Additionally, avoid hardcoding sensitive data like passwords or salts, and ensure that you always store the hash securely after hashing.

While BcryptJS is designed for password hashing, it can technically hash any data. However, it's optimized for passwords, and other hashing algorithms like SHA-256 may be more appropriate for data integrity checks or non-sensitive information due to performance considerations.

BcryptJS prevents brute force attacks by using adaptive hashing with configurable salt rounds, which increases the time it takes to compute a hash. This makes it more computationally expensive for attackers to try multiple passwords, enhancing overall security against such attacks.

Install BcryptJS using npm with the command `npm install bcryptjs`. After installation, require it in your code: `const bcrypt = require('bcryptjs');`. This enables you to start hashing and comparing passwords in your application.