Hypertext Preprocessor - Server-Side Scripting Language
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used open source general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML. Created in 1994, PHP has evolved into a mature, feature-rich language that powers a significant portion of the web, including major platforms like Facebook, Wikipedia, and WordPress. PHP 8+ brings modern features like JIT compilation, union types, and attributes, making it competitive with contemporary languages while maintaining backward compatibility.
PHP is a server-side scripting language designed for web development but also used as a general-purpose programming language. Originally created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994, PHP now stands for "PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor" (a recursive acronym). PHP code is executed on the server, generating HTML which is then sent to the client's browser.
Unlike client-side JavaScript, PHP runs on the web server, making it perfect for tasks like database operations, file handling, session management, and generating dynamic page content. PHP can be embedded directly into HTML code, making it incredibly convenient for web developers.
Simple syntax and gentle learning curve for beginners, with C-like syntax familiar to many programmers. Perfect for those new to server-side programming.
Free to use with large community contributions, extensive documentation, and no licensing costs. Backed by a strong open-source community worldwide.
Runs on all major operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, and various Unix variants without modification to your code.
Native support for MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, MongoDB, and many more databases with built-in drivers and powerful PDO extension.
Robust frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, and Yii that provide structure, security, and accelerate development significantly.
Library of over 1000 built-in functions for common tasks like string manipulation, file handling, encryption, image processing, and more.
Comprehensive error reporting and exception handling with try-catch blocks, custom error handlers, and detailed stack traces.
Full OOP capabilities with classes, interfaces, traits, namespaces, abstract classes, and support for modern design patterns.
Supported by virtually all web hosting providers worldwide, making deployment simple, affordable, and accessible.
Free and open-source reduces development and licensing costs significantly compared to proprietary solutions and platforms.
Over 25 years of development with stable, tested solutions and battle-proven code libraries trusted by millions.
Powers WordPress (43% of all websites), Drupal, Joomla, and Magento - the most popular content management systems globally.
Build websites quickly with pre-built components, frameworks, and extensive package ecosystems like Composer for dependency management.
Easy integration with various database systems, both SQL and NoSQL, with mature ORM solutions like Eloquent and Doctrine.
Easy to find experienced PHP developers at competitive rates due to the language's popularity and widespread adoption.
PHP 7.x and 8.x offer significant performance improvements, JIT compilation, and contemporary language features like typed properties.
Build or customize WordPress, Drupal, Joomla sites with thousands of plugins, themes, and extensions available for any functionality.
Create powerful online stores with WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop featuring payment gateways, inventory management, and shipping integration.
Develop full-featured web applications, business portals, and SaaS platforms with complex business logic and database interactions.
Build robust API services for mobile and web applications with frameworks like Laravel and Slim, supporting JSON, XML, and authentication.
Handle form submissions, validation, sanitization, and data processing with built-in security features and CSRF protection.
Manage user authentication, authorization, session handling, password hashing, and role-based access control systems.
Perform CRUD operations with various databases using PDO, MySQLi, or ORMs like Eloquent and Doctrine for elegant database interaction.
Manipulate images, create thumbnails, add watermarks, generate PDFs, and handle file uploads with GD, ImageMagick, or Intervention Image.
<?php
// Database connection
$host = 'localhost';
$dbname = 'myapp';
$username = 'root';
$password = '';
try {
$pdo = new PDO("mysql:host=$host;dbname=$dbname", $username, $password);
$pdo->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
// Fetch users from database
$stmt = $pdo->query("SELECT * FROM users");
$users = $stmt->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC);
// Display users
foreach ($users as $user) {
echo "<h2>" . htmlspecialchars($user['name']) . "</h2>";
echo "<p>" . htmlspecialchars($user['email']) . "</p>";
}
} catch(PDOException $e) {
echo "Connection failed: " . $e->getMessage();
}
?>Elegant PHP framework for web artisans
High-performance PHP framework
Lightweight and simple framework
Fast, secure, and efficient framework
Rapid development framework
Micro-framework for APIs
PHP powers some of the world's most visited websites and applications. These companies have chosen PHP for its reliability, performance, scalability, and the vast ecosystem of tools and developers available.
WordPress: Powers 43% of all websites on the internet
Facebook: Originally built with PHP (still uses PHP extensively)
Wikipedia: Handles billions of page views monthly with PHP
Download PHP or install a local development environment like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP.
php --versionOr use local server packages
Create an index.php file in your web server's root directory (htdocs).
<?php echo "Hello World"; ?>Save as index.php
Start your local server and access via browser at localhost.
php -S localhost:8000Built-in PHP server
Always use PDO or MySQLi with prepared statements to prevent SQL injection
Always validate and sanitize user input to prevent XSS and other attacks
Use PHP 8+ for better performance, type safety, and modern features
Use try-catch blocks and proper error reporting for debugging
Manage dependencies with Composer for better code organization
Follow PHP Standards Recommendations for consistent code style
Leverage frameworks like Laravel or Symfony for faster development
Use PHPUnit for unit testing to ensure code quality and reliability