# sfPasswordStrengthPlugin plugin

The `sfPasswordStrengthPlugin` allows you to easily measure the strength of a password.

It is displayed as a pretty progress bar.



Inspired from [Password Strength validator](http://www.symfony-project.org/snippets/snippet/235) snippet

Uses [Alix Axel algorithm](http://www.alixaxel.com/wordpress/2007/06/09/php-password-strength-algorithm/)


## Installation

  * Install the plugin
  
      
        symfony plugin-install http://plugins.symfony-project.com/sfPasswordStrengthPlugin
      

  * Make a symbolic link
  
      
        $ cd web
        $ ln -s ../plugins/sfPasswordStrengthPlugin/web sfPasswordStrengthPlugin
      

  * Create an action

      
        public function executeCalculateStrength()
        {
          $strength = PasswordStrength::calculate(
                        $this->getRequestParameter('password'),
                        $this->getRequestParameter('login')
          );
          return $this->renderText(PasswordStrength::getBar($strength));
        }
      

  * Add a DIV element where the bar will be placed and observe your field (note: you can see that the login is sent too,
    in order to test if the login is in the password, which is very bad!)

      
        echo observe_field('password', array(
              'update'   => 'strength',
              'url'      => 'user_account/calculateStrength',
              'with'     => "$('password').serialize() + '&' + $('login').serialize()",
              'script'   => true,
              'frequency'=> 0.5,
        ));
      

  * Insert the style sheet (I hope this step will be automated soon!)

      
        <?php use_stylesheet('/sfPasswordStrengthPlugin/css/sfPasswordStrengthStyle.css'); ?>
      

  * You should be done.