bcrypt vs bcryptjs: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between bcrypt and bcryptjs, two popular libraries used for hashing passwords. Both bcrypt and bcryptjs offer an efficient and secure way to encrypt passwords, but there are some important distinctions to consider.

1. Dependency: bcrypt is a Node.js library that relies on a native code binding to bcrypt, which needs to be compiled during installation. On the other hand, bcryptjs is a JavaScript-only implementation of bcrypt that does not require any external dependencies or native code bindings to be compiled.

2. Performance: In terms of performance, bcrypt tends to be faster than bcryptjs due to its native C implementation. The native code binding used by bcrypt allows it to take advantage of low-level optimizations, resulting in faster hash computations. In contrast, bcryptjs being a pure JavaScript implementation may be slightly slower in comparison.

3. Platform Compatibility: bcrypt is primarily designed for Node.js and operates smoothly within the Node.js environment. However, it may face compatibility issues when used in other platforms or frameworks. On the other hand, bcryptjs is written entirely in JavaScript and is compatible with a wider range of platforms, making it more versatile for various development environments.

4. Flexibility: bcrypt supports the use of differing work factors when generating hashes, allowing developers to adjust the algorithm's complexity according to specific requirements. In contrast, bcryptjs only supports a fixed work factor, limiting its flexibility in terms of customization.

5. Community Support: bcrypt has been widely used for a longer period and has a larger user community compared to bcryptjs. This larger community often results in better support, more extensive documentation, and a higher likelihood of finding relevant examples or solutions to potential issues.

6. Ease of Use: Due to its native code binding requirement, bcrypt may involve additional steps during installation and deployment, making it slightly more complex to set up. In contrast, bcryptjs is easier to use, as it only requires including the JavaScript file in the project without any additional setup or installation steps.

In summary, bcrypt offers better performance and flexibility, but relies on native code bindings and has limited platform compatibility. On the other hand, bcryptjs is easier to use, more versatile across platforms, and benefits from a larger user community for support.