What does "salting" mean in password security?

Salting in password security refers to the practice of adding a random value, known as a salt, to a password before it is hashed. This technique enhances security by ensuring that even if two users choose the same password, the hashes generated will be different due to the unique salt value associated with each password.

By using salts, attackers who attempt to use precomputed tables, such as rainbow tables, to crack hashes will be thwarted because they would need to calculate the hash for every unique combination of password and salt. This adds an extra layer of complexity and randomness to password storage, making it significantly more difficult for attackers to decipher passwords.

This practice is fundamental in securing stored passwords, as it protects against a wide variety of attack vectors, including precomputed hash attacks, and helps maintain the confidentiality of users' passwords even if the hash database is compromised.