encrypting/decrypting data

[chump2877]

What is the best way to encrypt and then decrypt data using PHP?

I tried using the mcrypt functions, but I get the feeling that my web host provider doesn;t support these functions....

So is there another way?

There's also md5(), but how do you decrypt something encrypted that way?

Anyway, just need some general pointers regarding the art of PHP encryption/decryption....thanks.

[Fou-Lu]

Yo chump,
All depends on what you are using it for. MD5 / SHA are of course hashing techniques, you cannot decrypt them; great for passwords as you can compare them instead.
However, encryption and decryption would be best left up to you to create. Unfortunatly I'm not much of a what do you call them, cryptologist or whatever, and I cannot really help you out on this. But if you just want something to compare to (like passwords or variafication of some sorts), use MD5. Saves you the trouble of decrypting :p

[chump2877]

But if you just want something to compare to (like passwords or variafication of some sorts), use MD5. Saves you the trouble of decrypting

Thanks, that helps...thats all I really need to do...I guess I can do what I want to do with md5() then..... :thumbsup: