Introduction To PHP

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely used server-side scripting language created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994. It is especially designed for web development but can also be used as a general-purpose programming language. PHP code is executed on the server, and the result is sent to the browser as plain HTML. It is open-source, easy to learn, and integrates well with databases (like MySQL), making it a popular choice for building dynamic websites, content management systems (CMS), and web applications. Famous platforms like WordPress, Facebook (early days), and Wikipedia were built using PHP. 

Key Features of PHP

1. Simple and Easy to Learn – Syntax is straightforward and beginner friendly.

2. Open Source – Free to use, with a large developer community.

3. Server-Side Execution – Code runs on the server and sends output to the client.

4. Cross-Platform – Runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and supports major servers (Apache, Nginx, IIS).

5. Database Integration – Works seamlessly with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, etc.

6. Supports OOP and Procedural Programming – Flexible coding styles.

7. Embedded in HTML – PHP code can be written inside HTML for dynamic web pages.

8. Rich Library Support – Built-in functions for file handling, form handling, encryption, and more.

9. Secure – Provides features like data encryption and secure session handling.

10. Fast Performance – Executes scripts quickly, especially when integrated with databases.