I think I didnt ask my second question correctly.

The terms 'crc32b' and 'whirlpool' are just random variables selected or actual hash functions? could I have used 'apple123' and 'banana123' instead?

I just love this question. In my opinion, it is best to use more than one hash so that it is harder to crack. And so that those online database chrackers can't store your hash, include the whirlpool hash. So below is a function I have made for a much better hash:

php Syntax (Toggle Plain Text)

function truehash($hashzzz) {
return hash('crc32b',hash('whirlpool',$hashzzz));
}

function truehash($hashzzz) { return hash('crc32b',hash('whirlpool',$hashzzz)); }

The function above will be really hard to crack as it uses oppisite types of output. One of the advantages with the function above is that crc32b is short (less data recorded) and whirlpool is long (containing more data). And since a whirlpool hash is 128 characters long, I doubt anybody will have a giant database of the whirlpool conversions. Of course you could use all of the hashes in the function but may make take a bit of cpu.
Any other comments?