"I am Saqib Jahangir. A passionate vlogger, software engineer, trainer and avid traveler with a deep love for exploring the hidden gems of our beautiful planet. With a strong foundation in Application Development, Application Architecture & Database Design and Product Management, I bring over a decade of hands-on experience building secure, scalable, and resilient web applications for a diverse range of industries."

What is PHP?

 1. Introduction

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is an open-source, server-side scripting language used primarily for web development. It is embedded into HTML and executed on the server, meaning the client only receives the final output (HTML, JSON, etc.), not the actual PHP code.

2. Key Features of PHP

  • Server-Side Execution – Code runs on the server before being sent to the browser.
  • Open Source – Free to use with a large community of developers.
  • Cross-Platform – Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
  • Database Support – Works with MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, and more.
  • Easy Integration – Can be embedded inside HTML or used with popular frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter.

3. Basic PHP Syntax

A PHP script starts with <?php and ends with ?>.

<?php

echo "Hello, World!";

?>

When executed, the browser displays:

Hello, World!

4. PHP in Action

PHP can:

  • Process form data
  • Generate dynamic page content
  • Manage sessions and cookies
  • Communicate with databases
  • Build REST APIs

Example: Simple PHP form handling

<?php

if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {

    $name = htmlspecialchars($_POST['name']);

    echo "Hello, " . $name;

}

?>

<form method="post">

    <input type="text" name="name" placeholder="Enter your name">

    <button type="submit">Submit</button>

</form>

 

Popular Posts

Operators (Arithmetic, Comparison, Logical)

  Operators in PHP are symbols that perform operations on variables and values. They are essential for performing calculations, comparing values, and making logical decisions in your code. PHP supports several types of operators, including arithmetic, comparison, and logical operators. Arithmetic Operators Arithmetic operators are used to perform basic mathematical operations. Example: <?php $a = 10; $b = 3;   echo $a + $b; // 13 echo $a - $b; // 7 echo $a * $b; // 30 echo $a / $b; // 3.3333 echo $a % $b; // 1 (modulus) echo $a ** $b; // 1000 (exponentiation) ?> Comparison Operators Comparison operators are used to compare two values. They return true or false . Example: <?php $x = 5; $y = 10;   var_dump($x == $y);   // false var_dump($x != $y);   // true var_dump($x === $y); // false (checks value and type) var_dump($x !== $y); // true var_dump($x > $y);    // false var_dum...
Read more

Functions (Built-in & User-defined)

  Functions in PHP are blocks of code designed to perform a specific task. They help make code reusable, organized, and easier to maintain. PHP provides built-in functions for common tasks, and also allows you to create your own user-defined functions . Built-in Functions PHP has hundreds of built-in functions that perform predefined operations such as string manipulation, mathematical calculations, and array handling. Example (Built-in Functions): <?php // String length echo strlen("Hello World"); // Outputs: 11   // Find maximum value in an array echo max(10, 20, 30); // Outputs: 30   // Convert string to uppercase echo strtoupper("php is awesome"); // Outputs: PHP IS AWESOME ?> User-defined Functions You can create your own functions to execute code whenever needed. This helps reduce repetition and makes programs easier to read. Syntax: function functionName($parameter1, $parameter2) {     // Code to...
Read more