md5 maker problem

[ceanth]

i want to be able to type in a md5 string and give the normal value for it, i have tried:

<?
$username = md5($db_password);
echo "$db_password";
?>

where $username is the input value but it doesnt seem to work (pase error) does anyone know how to do this?

[laserlight]

If by "normal value" you mean the original value, then I suggest that you read up a little on the md5 algorithm.

Basically, it is (supposed to be) computationally infeasible to get the original value given only the hashed value.

[TomD]

MD5 is a one way hash.

Store then MD5 hash of the user name or password you are trying to protect and then compare then hash of the user entered data with the stored vale.

$storedpassword = md5($username); //on registration or whatever - store this in a text file or database.

//On a login attempt make a comparison like this

if (md5($username) == $storedpassword) 
     {
      echo("Username validated!");
      } 
      else 
      {
      echo("Username login failed!");
       }

While this isn't any thing I'd put in my resume I hope it gets the MD5 idea across.

More info is here .