Do you know how wearing a dynamic website looks like? Well, believe it or not, PHP is used quite a lot in most of them! This is a very handy scripting language that enables formation of web pages that can be controlled interactively.
What is PHP?
PHP is like a code which computers know how to receive. This is where you write PHP code and the server interprets what these functions do and produces HTML code that your browser interprets and produces what you see on your page. To some people, it is like watching a magician perform the trick of rabbits in a hat except that it is done using a lot of codes!
Why Learn PHP?
Server-Side Scripting: Serverside scripting involves processing form data, requesting and connecting to databases and sending email which are handled by PHP.
Open-Source and Free: PHP is freely available software and has a very large community backing it.
Easy to Learn: PHP is rather easy to learn because the language is relatively easy to master and simple to use.
Versatile: PHP is equally effective for writing small websites as for developing large-scale web applications.
Key PHP Concepts for Newbies
Variables: Remember that variables are similar to the containers which are used for storing values, strings of characters, integers, and so on.
Data Types: Here are some of the data types that can be used in PHP; integral data type, float, string and boolean data type.
Operators: An operator is an entity that works on variables as well as values.
Control Structures: These structures for example if-else and for control the flow of your program.
Functions: Functions are similar to reusable parts in a vehicle or an automobile; it is a set of instructions that your code will carry out.
Arrays: An array is data that is stored in a variable where more than one value can be stored.
Strings: …strings are pieces of characters like texts.
Getting Started with PHP
Set Up a Development Environment: You all need a text editor (like text based Visual Studio Code) and you need a web server (like XAMPP).
Write Your First PHP Script: To do this, make a PHP file with notepad or any text editor of your choice Then make the following script as the content of the file Hello world in PHP.
Run Your Script: To do this, go to your favourites and open your web server, and then type the name of your PHP script followed by a ‘?’ in your browser’s address bar, and the results will be displayed.
