PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely–used object–oriented programming language that can be embedded in HTML.
PHP codes are run on the server–side and returned to the client computer as HTML content.
Notice how different a PHP script is from languages like Perl or C. Instead of writing a lot of code to generate HTML code, you write PHP code that does what you want and embeds it in the HTML code.
What distinguishes PHP from user–side languages such as Javascript is running on the server–side.
You can even make your HTML server see and process all your HTML files as PHP files if you wish. However, users may not realize that you are using a server–side application.
One of the great things about using PHP is that it’s straightforward to learn for new users, and it also includes advanced features for professional users.
How to Use PHP?
To write PHP, you must first install the local server modules on your computer. Some ready–made programs (such as Apache, MySQL, PhpMyAdmin) contain such modules in a single package.
For example, XAMPP and WAMP Server programs are prepared for this purpose and are preferred by many developers.
Which Databases Does PHP Support?
PHP MySQL, SQLite, PostgreSQL, Sybase, IBM–DB2, Mongo, dBase, etc. It allows you to use many popular databases in your projects.
Why Is PHP So Widespread?
People prefer programming languages based on their widespread use and certain other factors such as performance, website security, language independence, cost–effectiveness, and many more.
There are many reasons why PHP is a highly preferred programming language;
- Performance
- High Security
- Ease of Production
- Wide Library Support
- Cross–Platform Support
- Support and Community
- Error Catching and Handling
- Easy Development and Maintenance
Why Should You Use PHP?
PHP is not the only server–side programming language available. There are many of them. But if you have a WordPress site, PHP is one step ahead of the competition.
As we mentioned earlier, WordPress is written using PHP. So by using this language, you can significantly increase the customization you can have on your site. You can use PHP to organize plugins and themes, and you can even make your plugin or theme!
If you’re still not convinced, here are some other reasons why PHP is such a great programming language:
- Widely used — eCommerce sites, blogs, social media, etc., used to build platforms. Statistics show that 79% of websites use PHP!
- It’s low-cost — it’s open-source so that you can use it for free.
- It’s easy to learn — PHP is easy to understand as it has excellent guides to its functions with lots of examples.
- Huge community — if you run into any problems, you can easily find help as many PHP blogs on the Internet.
- It can integrate with databases — some examples are MySQL, Sybase, DB2, etc.
PHP vs. JavaScript
However, PHP is often used to create dynamic content.
If you are familiar with JavaScript, you also know that JavaScript is used to make a static page more dynamic and interactive. For this reason, PHP and JavaScript are two programming languages that have similar functions.
Why Do We Need Both?
When building a dynamic website, it is possible to make one that works entirely with JavaScript. However, the functionality may vary.
With JavaScript, you can make a dynamic site that allows simple interactions like mouse rollover effect, automatic validation, and photo galleries. However, it cannot create user–contributed content such as social networks and e–commerce (websites that change according to user behavior).
Let’s say you are logging into a social network. PHP takes data from your database and sends results to your browser to view your profile.
That’s why JavaScript and PHP are not competitors. They can even be used together to make a beautiful dynamic website.
Each time you make changes to your profile, PHP will store the new information for future data retrieval. This process allows a social network to display different content to different users.
