description Argon2 Overview
Argon2 is the winner of the Password Hashing Competition and is currently the recommended standard for hashing passwords. Unlike standard hashing algorithms like SHA-256, Argon2 is memory-hard, meaning it requires a significant amount of memory to compute. This makes it extremely resistant to GPU and ASIC-based brute-force attacks.
It is essential for any application that stores user passwords, as it provides a robust defense against credential stuffing and database leaks. Argon2 is the modern standard for secure password storage, offering tunable parameters for time, memory, and parallelism.
info Argon2 Specifications
| License | CC0 Public Domain |
| Salt Size | 8-64 bytes (16+ bytes recommended) |
| Iterations | 1-4294967295 (configurable) |
| Competition | Password Hashing Competition (PHC) winner |
| Parallelism | 1-16777216 threads (configurable) |
| Release Year | 2015 (competition winner) |
| Minimum Memory | 8 MB (recommended: 19-64 MB for security) |
| Algorithm Variant | Argon2d, Argon2i, Argon2id |
| Key Derivation Output | 1-64 bytes (configurable) |
| Reference Implementation | C (with official bindings for 10+ languages) |
balance Argon2 Pros & Cons
- Winner of the Password Hashing Competition (2015), rigorously vetted by the cryptography community
- Memory-hard design effectively prevents GPU, ASIC, and FPGA attacks on password cracking
- Three variants (Argon2d, Argon2i, Argon2id) provide flexibility for different security requirements
- Released under CC0 public domain license, freely usable in any project without restrictions
- Configurable memory, time, and parallelism parameters allow fine-tuning for specific use cases
- Recommended by OWASP and security researchers as the modern standard for password hashing
- Higher memory requirements (minimum ~8MB) make it unsuitable for extremely constrained embedded systems
- Configuration complexity requires expertise; improper parameter selection can reduce security
- Newer standard means some legacy systems and older libraries lack native support
- Memory hardness can be bypassed via hardware upgrades as attacker resources increase
- Implementation mistakes (e.g., side-channel leaks in Argon2i) can compromise security despite algorithm strength
help Argon2 FAQ
How does Argon2 compare to bcrypt and scrypt for password hashing?
Argon2 offers better resistance to GPU attacks than bcrypt due to its memory-hard design, and provides more flexibility than scrypt with three configurable parameters (memory, time, parallelism). Argon2id, the recommended variant, combines protections against both timing and GPU attacks.
Which Argon2 variant should I use: Argon2d, Argon2i, or Argon2id?
Argon2id is recommended for most applications as it combines the benefits of both variants: Argon2d's resistance to GPU cracking (via data-dependent caching) and Argon2i's side-channel resistance (via data-independent access).
What parameters should I use when implementing Argon2?
OWASP recommends at minimum 19MB memory, 2 iterations, and 1 degree of parallelism for Argon2id. For high-security applications, increase memory to 64MB or higher. Adjust based on your server's resources and acceptable latency.
Is Argon2 safe for production use in 2024?
Yes, Argon2 remains the recommended password hashing algorithm. It has been thoroughly analyzed since 2015 with no critical vulnerabilities found in Argon2id. Major frameworks like PHP 7.4+, Python, and Node.js provide native support.
What programming languages support Argon2 implementation?
The reference implementation is in C with official bindings for C++, Rust, Python, Ruby, Go, Node.js, Java, C#, and many others. Most modern languages have well-maintained libraries.
What is Argon2?
How good is Argon2?
How much does Argon2 cost?
What are the best alternatives to Argon2?
What is Argon2 best for?
Applications requiring secure password storage where resistance to GPU-accelerated cracking is critical, such as authentication systems, password managers, and security-sensitive web services.
How does Argon2 compare to Rapid7 InsightVM?
Is Argon2 worth it in 2026?
What are the key specifications of Argon2?
- License: CC0 Public Domain
- Salt Size: 8-64 bytes (16+ bytes recommended)
- Iterations: 1-4294967295 (configurable)
- Competition: Password Hashing Competition (PHC) winner
- Parallelism: 1-16777216 threads (configurable)
- Release Year: 2015 (competition winner)
explore Explore More
Similar to Argon2
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
