Calling codeigniter encryption key - php

Question

I have set the encryption key in config.php file
$config['encryption_key'] = 'az2x#_.#!`~$aezxqy+=#%^&';
I want to use this key in password when registering users into the website, right now i am using this method
'password' => hash('sha256', $password . 'az2x#_.#!`~$aezxqy+=#%^&')
Is there any way i can set the above code like
'password' => hash('sha256', $password . $config['encryption_key']),
when i do it gives error of undefined $config variable.

Answer 1

I strongly suggest using the built-in php API for password salt/hash and not the method you are using, the encryption key is meant to be used for the encryption class...
$passwordHash = password_hash($password, PASSWORD_BCRYPT);
You use this salted and hashed password stored in the database.
Then verify it when getting it from the DB using:
password_verify($password, $result->password)
This returns a BOOLEAN so you use it in an if statement:
if ( password_verify($password, $result->password) ) {
// do login stuff
} else {
// handle login failure
}
Else, you can use the encryption key by the following (strongly suggest against it):
$this->config->item('encryption_key');
If this doesn't work you are probably writing a helper or something, so you'll need to call the CI instance to get access to the config array.