PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting language designed primarily for web development.
It is widely used to create dynamic and interactive websites.
Key Features of PHP
- Server-side scripting: PHP runs on the server, generating dynamic content sent to the browser.
- Easy to learn: Simple syntax, especially for those with basic knowledge of HTML and CSS.
- Open-source: Free to use and well-supported by the community.
- Database integration: Easily connects to databases, particularly MySQL.
- Cross-platform: Works on various operating systems like Windows, Linux, and macOS.
PHP Syntax
- PHP code is embedded within HTML using
<?php ... ?>
tags.
- PHP statements end with a semicolon (
;
).
<?php
echo "Hello, World!";
?>
PHP Variables
- Variables in PHP start with a dollar sign (
$
) followed by the variable name.
- PHP variables do not need explicit type declarations.
<?php
$name = "John"; // String
$age = 25; // Integer
?>
How PHP Works
- Client Request: User requests a web page.
- PHP Server: PHP code on the server executes and generates HTML.
- Response: The server sends the generated HTML to the client’s browser.
PHP Common Uses
Purpose | Example |
---|
Dynamic content generation | Displaying user data from a database |
Form processing | Handling contact forms or registrations |
Session management | Tracking users with sessions and cookies |
Database operations | Connecting to MySQL to store/retrieve data |