PHP Overview

🚀 What is PHP?

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely used, open-source scripting language primarily designed for web development. It runs on the server and enables developers to create dynamic web pages.

✅ Key Features of PHP

  • Easy to learn and use.
  • Server-side execution ensures secure code processing.
  • Compatible with various databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB.
  • Supports object-oriented programming (OOP).
  • Works on all major operating systems and web servers.
  • Has a vast community and extensive documentation.

📌 How PHP Works

PHP code is executed on the server, and the output is sent to the browser as HTML. Here’s a simple example:

<?php 
echo "Welcome to PHP!"; 
?>

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📌 PHP in Action

PHP can handle forms, interact with databases, and manage sessions. Here’s an example of embedding PHP inside HTML:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>PHP Example</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Hello, PHP!</h1>
    <p>The current date is: <?php echo date("Y-m-d"); ?></p>
</body>
</html>

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📌 Common Uses of PHP

  • Building dynamic websites.
  • Processing form data.
  • Working with databases.
  • Handling file uploads.
  • Managing user sessions and authentication.
  • Developing REST APIs.

📌 PHP with Databases

PHP is commonly used with MySQL for database-driven applications. Here’s a basic connection example:

<?php 
$servername = "localhost"; 
$username = "root"; 
$password = ""; 
$dbname = "test_db"; 

$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname); 

if ($conn->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}

echo "Connected successfully";
?>

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📌 PHP Popularity

PHP powers some of the biggest websites, including:

  • WordPress (content management system).
  • Facebook (earlier versions used PHP heavily).
  • Wikipedia.
  • Drupal & Joomla.

📌 Conclusion

PHP is a powerful and versatile scripting language that plays a crucial role in web development. Whether you’re building small websites or large-scale applications, PHP provides the flexibility and efficiency needed for dynamic content creation.