PHP Tutorial

This free PHP tutorial provides a comprehensive overview of the PHP scripting language, suitable for beginners and experienced developers alike. PHP, which stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, is a widely used server-side scripting language for creating dynamic and interactive web applications.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to expand your web development skills, this tutorial will help you master PHP programming. You'll learn about control statements, functions, arrays, strings, file handling, form handling, regular expressions, date and time manipulation, object-oriented programming in PHP, mathematical operations, working with PHP and MySQL, integrating PHP with Ajax, using PHP with jQuery, and more.

Prerequisites for learning PHP

You don't need any prior programming skills or knowledge of other programming languages to learn PHP.

What is PHP?

PHP stands for Hypertext Preprocessor and is an open source, object-oriented, server-side scripting language used for web development. Here are some important points that every PHP developer should know.

Features of PHP

1. Open-Source and Free: PHP is open source, meaning it's freely available for anyone to use without licensing fees. It can run on various operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Unix, and more.

2. Server-Side Scripting: PHP code is executed on the server before sending HTML content to the user's browser. This allows for dynamic web page generation and handling of user interactions.

3. Interpreted Language: PHP code is interpreted line by line, eliminating the need for compilation. This simplifies the development and testing processes.

4. Database Connectivity: PHP integrates seamlessly with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle, making it easy to store and retrieve data for web applications.

5. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): PHP supports OOP concepts such as classes, objects, inheritance, and polymorphism. This enables better code organization and modularity.

6. Built-in Functions: PHP comes with a wide range of built-in functions for tasks like string manipulation, date and time handling, file handling, and more. This reduces the need for external libraries.

7. Session Management: PHP allows for easy management of user sessions, enabling personalized experiences and storing user data across multiple page visits.

8. Security Features: While security is crucial for any programming language, PHP offers built-in security features and best practices to help mitigate vulnerabilities.

History of PHP

PHP was created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994. Initially, it was designed to manage Common Gateway Interface (CGI) binaries, which are written in the C programming language. Over time, PHP evolved into a server-side scripting language used for web development. The latest version, PHP 8, was released on November 24, 2022. PHP can be easily embedded within HTML files, and HTML code can also be written within PHP files. PHP code is executed on the server side, while HTML code is executed directly in the browser.

Characteristics of PHP

- Simple: PHP is easy to learn and use, making it accessible to beginners.

- Efficient: PHP is designed for web development, making it efficient for creating dynamic web pages.

- Secure: PHP has built-in security features and best practices to help developers create secure applications.

- Flexible: PHP can be used for a wide range of applications, from simple scripts to complex web applications.

First Hello World program in PHP

A simple program on-screen message that outputs "Hello world!"

<?php

/* echo is a print command */

echo "Hello world!";

Output:

Hello world!

Why We Learn PHP ?

We learn PHP because it is one of the most widely used open-source scripting languages for backend development. Here are some key reasons why learning PHP is beneficial:

1. Easy to Learn: PHP is relatively easy to learn, especially for those new to programming.

2. Free of Cost: Being open source, PHP is free to use, including its components and methods.

3. Flexible: PHP is dynamically typed, allowing developers to build features without strict rules.

4. Database Support: PHP supports a wide range of databases, including MySQL, ODBC, and SQLite.

5. Security: PHP offers multiple security levels, providing a secure platform for web development.

6. Community Support: PHP has a large and active developer community, offering support and sharing knowledge.

Overall, PHP's versatility and widespread use in web development make it a valuable language to learn.

Start the PHP tutorial

Discover the power of the internet with this free PHP tutorial. Guide you through the building blocks to go from beginner to confident PHP developer. Get ready to create dynamic web applications and robust server-side functionality using the versatile PHP language.

Functions Complete References

Applications of PHP

1. Server-side Web Development: PHP is primarily used for server-side web development. It is used to generate dynamic content for web pages.

2. Content Management Systems (CMS): PHP is widely used in developing content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. These systems allow users to manage the content of their websites without much technical knowledge.

3. E-commerce Websites: PHP is used to develop e-commerce websites, enabling online buying and selling of goods and services. Platforms like Magento and WooCommerce are built using PHP.

4. Database-driven Applications: PHP is used to develop database-driven applications that rely on databases to store, manage, and retrieve data. It works seamlessly with database management systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.

5. Web APIs: PHP is used to create web APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) that can be accessed over the web using the HTTP protocol. These APIs allow different software applications to communicate with each other over the internet.

PHP Tutorial: Frequently Asked Questions

What is PHP full form?

The full form of PHP is Hypertext Preprocessor It was abbreviated previously as Personal Home Page.

Is PHP easy to learn?

Yes, to get a pro in PHP it will take 6 to 12 months so it more towards the easy programming language to learn.

Can you learn PHP on your own

Yes, you one can easily learn PHP by its own, just get some good resource like GeeksforGeeks and YouTube

Why is PHP used for?

PHP is used for a wide range of web development tasks, but here are some of its most common applications:

What is a PHP developer’s salary?

The average salary of the PHP developer lies between 3.5 Lakh to 11 Lakh.

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