PHP Intro

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used open-source scripting language designed primarily for web development. It is a server-side language, meaning it runs on the web server and generates HTML which is then sent to the client’s web browser. PHP is known for its ease of use, flexibility, and ability to interact with databases, making it a popular choice for building dynamic web applications.

Key Features of PHP:

1. Server-Side Scripting: PHP is executed on the server, and the output is sent to the client's browser as HTML. This allows PHP to generate dynamic web content.
2. Cross-Platform: PHP runs on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix.
3. Embedded in HTML: PHP code can be embedded directly within HTML, making it easy to integrate with web pages.
4. Database Integration: PHP can interact with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, enabling data-driven web applications.
5. Open Source: PHP is free to use and has a large, active community contributing to its development and support.
6. Wide Adoption: Many content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are built with PHP, showcasing its versatility.

Basic Syntax

A PHP script is embedded within HTML code and is enclosed in <!--?php ... ?--> tags. PHP code is executed on the server, and only the resulting output is sent to the client's browser.

Getting Started with PHP

1. Setting Up Your Environment:

   • Local Development: Install a local server environment like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP, which includes Apache, PHP, and MySQL.
   • Online Development: Use a web hosting service that supports PHP.

2. Writing PHP Code:

   • Create a .php file and write PHP code within <?php ... ?> tags.

3. Running PHP Scripts:

   • Place your PHP file in the web server’s root directory (e.g., htdocs in XAMPP).
   • Access the file through a web browser by navigating to http://localhost/yourfile.php.