PHP Interview Questions – Introduction
1. (Asked in Infosys) What is PHP?
Answer:
PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor. It is an open-source, server-side scripting language used mainly for developing dynamic websites and web applications.
2. (Asked in TCS) What are the main features of PHP?
Answer:
Key features include:
- Easy to learn and use.
- Open-source and cross-platform.
- Supports databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL.
- Provides built-in functions for handling forms, files, and sessions.
- Offers excellent community support and extensive documentation.
3. (Asked in Cognizant) Explain server-side scripting and how PHP fits into it.
Answer:
Server-side scripting refers to scripts executed on a web server rather than the client’s browser. PHP scripts run on the server, process requests, interact with databases, and generate dynamic content, which is then sent back to the browser.
4. (Asked in Amazon) Is PHP a case-sensitive language? Give examples.
Answer:
PHP is partially case-sensitive. Variable names are case-sensitive, but function names are not.
Example:
$name = "John";
echo $NAME; // Error, variables are case-sensitive
function greet() { echo "Hello"; }
GREET(); // Works, functions are case-insensitive
5. (Asked in Wipro) Which type of websites can be built using PHP?
Answer:
PHP is versatile and can be used to build:
- Dynamic and interactive websites
- E-commerce platforms
- Content Management Systems (e.g., WordPress, Joomla)
- Social media sites
- Blogs and forums
6. (Asked in Accenture) How can you embed PHP code within HTML? Give an example.
Answer:
PHP code is embedded within HTML using the <?php ?> tags.
Example:
<html>
<body>
<?php echo "Hello, World!"; ?>
</body>
</html>
7. (Asked in Google) What are PHP variables, and how do you declare them?
Answer:
Variables store data that can be used later in the program. PHP variables start with a dollar sign $.
Example:
$age = 25;
$name = "Alex";
8. (Asked in IBM) What is the use of the echo statement in PHP?
Answer:
The echo statement outputs one or more strings to the browser. It is commonly used for displaying text, variables, or HTML content.
Example:
echo "Welcome to PHP!";
echo $name;
9. (Asked in Capgemini) Explain the difference between single and double quotes in PHP.
Answer:
- Single quotes (
') treat the content as a literal string without interpreting variables or special characters. - Double quotes (
") interpret variables and special characters inside the string.
Example:
$name = "John";
echo 'Hello $name'; // Output: Hello $name
echo "Hello $name"; // Output: Hello John
10. (Asked in Facebook) Can PHP run without a web server? Explain briefly.
Answer:
Yes. PHP scripts can be executed directly from the command line without a web server. This feature is useful for automated tasks, testing, or creating cron jobs.
Example:
php script.php