How to Implement Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) in PHP

As online security threats continue to evolve, implementing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) in your PHP applications has become essential. 2FA adds an extra layer of protection on top of the traditional username and password by requiring a second factor — usually a code sent to a user’s phone or generated by an app like Google Authenticator.

🔧 Prerequisites

• Basic PHP knowledge
• Composer installed
• Access to a PHP development environment

📦 Step 1: Install the Google Authenticator Library

We’ll use robthree/twofactorauth, a popular PHP package for 2FA.

composer require robthree/twofactorauth

🛠 Step 2: Generate and Store the Secret Key

Each user will need a unique secret key. Store this key securely in your database.

require 'vendor/autoload.php';

use RobThree\Auth\TwoFactorAuth;

$tfa = new TwoFactorAuth('MyApp');

// Generate a new secret for the user
$secret = $tfa->createSecret();

// Store $secret in the user's database record

📱 Step 3: Show QR Code for User Setup

Let the user scan a QR code with Google Authenticator or a similar app:

$label = 'user@example.com';
$qrCodeUrl = $tfa->getQRCodeImageAsDataUri($label, $secret);

// Embed the image in your HTML
echo '<img src="' . $qrCodeUrl . '" />';

🔐 Step 4: Verify the User's 2FA Code

When a user logs in, prompt for their 2FA code and verify it:

$userCode = $_POST['2fa_code']; // from user input
$isValid = $tfa->verifyCode($secret, $userCode);

if ($isValid) {
    echo "2FA verified!";
} else {
    echo "Invalid 2FA code.";
}

💡 Bonus Tips

• Allow users to regenerate or reset their 2FA secret in case they lose access.
• Use HTTPS to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
• Implement rate limiting on 2FA code verification to deter brute-force attempts.

✅ Conclusion

Implementing 2FA in PHP using robthree/twofactorauth is a straightforward way to significantly improve your application's security. With just a few steps, you can protect your users and their data from unauthorized access.

Download 2FA Authentication PHP

Secure your app — one factor at a time.