PHP is a simple yet powerful language designed for creating HTML content. This chapter covers essential background on the PHP language. It describes the nature and history of PHP; which platforms it runs on; and how to download, install, and configure it. This chapter ends by showing you PHP in action, with a quick walkthrough of several PHP programs that illustrate common tasks, such as processing form data, interacting with a database, and creating graphics.

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Introduction to PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language.

PHP is a simple yet powerful language designed for creating HTML content. This chapter covers essential background on the PHP language. It describes the nature and history of PHP; which platforms it runs on; and how to download, install, and configure it. This chapter ends by showing you PHP in action, with a quick walkthrough of several PHP programs that illustrate common tasks, such as processing form data, interacting with a database, and creating graphics.

What You Should Already Know

Before you continue you should have a basic understanding of the following:

  • HTML/XHTML
  • JavaScript

What is PHP?

  • PHP stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
  • PHP is a server-side scripting language, like ASP
  • PHP scripts are executed on the server
  • PHP supports many databases (MySQL, Informix, Oracle, Sybase, Solid, PostgreSQL, Generic ODBC, etc.)
  • PHP is an open source software
  • PHP is free to download and use

What is a PHP File?

  • PHP files can contain text, HTML tags and scripts
  • PHP files are returned to the browser as plain HTML 
  • PHP files have a file extension of ".php", ".php3", or ".phtml"

What is MySQL?

  • MySQL is a database server
  • MySQL is ideal for both small and large applications
  • MySQL supports standard SQL
  • MySQL compiles on a number of platforms
  • MySQL is free to download and use

PHP + MySQL

  • PHP combined with MySQL are cross-platform (you can develop in Windows and serve on a Unix platform)

Why PHP?

  • PHP runs on different platforms (Windows, Linux, Unix, etc.)
  • PHP is compatible with almost all servers used today (Apache, IIS, etc.)
  • PHP is FREE to download from the official PHP resource: www.php.net
  • PHP is easy to learn and runs efficiently on the server side

Where to Start?

To get access to a web server with PHP support, you can:

  • Install Apache (or IIS) on your own server, install PHP, and MySQL
  • Or find a web hosting plan with PHP and MySQL support


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