title: Difference between Hashing a Password and Encrypting it
body: <p>The current top-voted to <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/325862/what-are-the-most-common-security-mistakes-programmers-make">this question</a> states:</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Another one that's not so much a security issue, although it is security-related, is complete and abject failure to <strong>grok the difference between hashing a password and encrypting it</strong>. Most commonly found in code where the programmer is trying to provide unsafe "Remind me of my password" functionality.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>What exactly is this difference? I was always under the impression that hashing was a form of encryption. What is the unsafe functionality the poster is referring to?</p>