Introduction to PHP Estimated reading: 4 minutes 5 views Contributors PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used open source scripting language specially suited for web development. If you are planning to build dynamic websites or web applications, learning PHP is an excellent starting point. This introduction will help you understand what PHP is, why it matters, and how you can begin your journey to harnessing its potential. What is PHP? PHP is a server-side scripting language, which means your PHP code is executed on the server before the resulting HTML is sent to a user’s web browser. This setup allows you to create dynamic content, interact with databases, work with files, and offer customized user experiences on your website. Since its debut in the mid-1990s, PHP has become an integral part of the modern web, powering millions of websites including some of the most popular content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. PHP History Overview The story of PHP begins in 1994 when Rasmus Lerdorf created a set of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) binaries using the C programming language. These scripts helped him track visits to his personal website. Originally named “Personal Home Page Tools,” PHP rapidly evolved as the demand for dynamic web pages grew. By 1997, PHP 3 was released with its new recursive acronym: PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor. PHP 3: Introduced a new parsing engine and extended functionality, making PHP suitable for large web projects.PHP 4: Released in 2000 with the Zend Engine, bringing higher performance and reliability.PHP 5: Launched in 2004, introducing advanced object-oriented programming features and improved XML support.PHP 7: Released in 2015, featuring major performance enhancements and language improvements.PHP 8: Launched in 2020, with new features like JIT compilation and union types for modern PHP development. PHP’s continuous evolution has helped it maintain a leading role in backend web development. Active community support and frequent updates keep the language relevant and secure. Benefits of Using PHP Open Source: PHP is free to use, with a vast pool of resources and community support.Cross-platform: Runs on various operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS.Database Integration: PHP can connect with a variety of databases, such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.Ease of Learning: PHP has a simple syntax, making it accessible to beginners.Extensibility: Supports integration with numerous frameworks, libraries, and APIs. The low entry barrier and wide range of available libraries make PHP an excellent language for both new programmers and experienced developers seeking to expand their skill set. PHP Installation Guide Getting started with PHP involves installing it on your local machine or deploying it in your server environment. The installation process is simple and can be completed in a few steps: Windows: Use packages like XAMPP, WAMP, or install PHP manually from the official source.macOS: PHP is often pre-installed on macOS. For newer versions or custom installations, tools like MAMP or Homebrew can be utilized.Linux: Install PHP using your distribution’s package manager, such as apt for Ubuntu or yum for CentOS.Web Hosting: Most web hosts include PHP by default, so you may not need to install anything if you’re using shared hosting. After installing PHP, you can verify the setup by running a simple command in your terminal or by creating a test script. Here’s how you can check your PHP version: php -v Alternatively, you can create a test PHP file in your web server’s root directory with the following content: <?php phpinfo(); ?> Open the file in your browser (e.g., http://localhost/info.php) to view your installation details. Basic Structure of a PHP Script Every PHP script begins with <?php and ends with ?>. PHP can be embedded within standard HTML, allowing you to mix dynamic and static content easily. <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <title>My First PHP Page</title> </head> <body> <?php echo "Hello, world!"; ?> </body> </html> This script outputs “Hello, world!” when accessed through a browser. You’ll be building upon this basic structure as you continue to learn PHP. Next Steps With a basic understanding of what PHP is and how to set it up, you’re ready to explore core concepts such as syntax rules, variables, data types, and writing your first script. As you progress through this tutorial, you’ll strengthen your PHP skills and gain the confidence to build full-featured dynamic websites and applications. Learn the fundamental syntax rules of PHP.Write your first PHP script and see the output in your browser.Explore how to declare variables and work with different data types. Continue to the next sections for practical examples and hands-on exercises that will help solidify your foundational knowledge of PHP. ArticlesPHP History Overview PHP Installation Guide Next - Introduction to PHP PHP History Overview
