PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a widely-used server-side scripting language designed for web development. It is embedded in HTML and is particularly suited for creating dynamic web pages, handling forms, and interacting with databases. PHP powers many popular content management systems (CMS) like WordPress and frameworks like Larel.
This guide will introduce you to the fundamentals of PHP programming, helping you build dynamic and interactive web applications.
Table of Contents What is PHP? Setting Up Your Environment Variables and Data Types Control Flow Functions Arrays Forms and User Input Working with Databases Sessions and Cookies Object-Oriented Programming What is PHP?PHP is a server-side scripting language that is executed on the server, generating HTML which is then sent to the client鈥檚 browser. It is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML.
// Example: Your first PHP program Setting Up Your EnvironmentTo write and run PHP programs, you need a local server environment like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP. Alternatively, you can use a web server with PHP installed.
# Example: Running a PHP script php -S localhost:8000 Variables and Data TypesPHP is loosely typed, meaning you don鈥檛 need to declare variable types explicitly. Common data types include integer, float, string, boolean, and array.
// Example: Declaring variables Control FlowPHP supports if, else, switch, and loops (for, while, do-while) for controlling program flow.
// Example: Conditional statement FunctionsFunctions are reusable blocks of code that perform a specific task. PHP supports both built-in and user-defined functions.
// Example: Function ArraysArrays in PHP can store multiple values in a single variable. PHP supports indexed arrays, associative arrays, and multidimensional arrays.
// Example: Indexed array Forms and User InputPHP is commonly used to handle form data submitted by users. The $_GET and $_POST superglobals are used to collect form data.
// Example: Handling form data Name: Working with DatabasesPHP can interact with databases like MySQL to store and retrieve data. The mysqli extension is commonly used for this purpose.
// Example: Connecting to a MySQL database Sessions and CookiesSessions and cookies are used to store user data across multiple pages. Sessions are stored on the server, while cookies are stored on the client鈥檚 browser.
// Example: Using sessions Object-Oriented ProgrammingPHP supports object-oriented programming (OOP) with classes, objects, inheritance, and more.
// Example: Class and Object