PHP - HYPERTEXT PREPROCESSOR

Introduction to PHP

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a popular open-source server-side scripting language designed for web development. It is embedded within HTML and is widely used to create dynamic and interactive web pages.

Role of PHP

Server-Side Scripting:

PHP runs on the server and generate dynamic page content.

Backend Development:

It interacts with databases, handles form data, manages sessions/cookies, and performs file operations.

Web Application Logic:

PHP connects front-end interfaces to backend operations, making websites functional and responsive.

Key Features of PHP

Open-source and free to use
Embedded within HTML
Cross-platform (works on Windows, Linux, macOS)
Supports multiple databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.)
Large community and wide hosting support
Built-in session and cookie handling
Extensive library of built-in functions

Applications of PHP

Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress, Joomla
E-commerce platforms like Magento, WooCommerce
Social networking sites
Web-based applications and dashboards
Forums and blogs

Advantages of PHP

Easy to learn and use for beginners
Flexible and powerful for professionals
Huge Community support
Fast performance when optimized
Compatible with many database systems
Regular updates and active development.

Disadvantages of PHP

Less suitable for large-scale applications without proper structure
Can be less secure if not coded properly
Error handling is basic compared to other modem languages
Slower execution than compiled languages

Syntax and Basics of php

PHP Tags and Execution

PHP code is enclosed within special tags:


                <?php
    // PHP code goes here...
?>

PHP can be embedded in HTML:


                <html>
    <body>
        <h1>Welcome</h1>
        <?php echo "Hello, World!";?>
    </body>
</html>

The server processes .php files and returns HTML to the browser.