Password vs Passphrase: Which Should You Use?
Understand the difference between passwords and passphrases and why longer credentials are often easier to secure.
In this guide
A passphrase is still a password
The distinction is mostly about structure. A passphrase is typically longer and may contain several words, while a password can be a shorter string of letters, numbers and symbols. Both should be unique and hard to guess.
Longer can be easier to remember
A memorable phrase can be easier for a person to remember than a short random-looking string. For account passwords, however, a password manager can remove the need to memorise complex credentials at all.
Do not use famous phrases
A quotation, song title or common saying is not automatically secure just because it contains several words. Attackers use lists of common phrases too. Length helps most when the chosen words are not predictable.
Use a unique credential for each account
Whether you choose a passphrase or a random password, avoid reusing it. The goal is to prevent one compromised service from giving an attacker a ready-made key to another service.
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