how do passwords work?

newbie here. so consider this paradox: let's say you have a pass protected rar file. now the password should be stored somewhere in the file to compare against the inputted password. so if it's there how come you cant just extract it?

>>63
Do you really think trolling on /prog/ is going to get people to stop making fun of you for not realizing the Cold War ended almost 2 decades ago, Mr. Soetoro?