Everything you need to know about PHP

It is an open-source server-side scripting language integrated with HTML programming that is used to create dynamic web pages. The advantage of PHP is its flexibility and compatibility with other databases. PHP is also considered an easy-to-learn language.

What is PHP for?

As we mentioned at the beginning, PHP connects servers and users, and the agility and speed it provides by linking to large databases is perhaps its main function.

Nowadays, it is essential both for the user experience, which demands agility in navigation and for search engines since they give priority and greater visibility to all those web pages and applications that load quickly from any device.

• One of the main functionalities of PHP is that by working in preview mode it manages to load the elements of a web page before presenting them to the user who enters a website, for example.
• Being open source, there are no usage limitations associated with rights. The user can use this language to program any project and sell it without copyright problems.
• It is constantly being optimized because there is a very active community of developers involved in its constant improvement.
• Within the difficulty of any programming language, it is one of the least difficult.
• It gets along fantastically well with a great part of database connectors, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite, InterBase, MySQL, Sybase, etc.
• PHP also offers the possibility of integrating different external libraries, giving it great versatility, and facilitating the developer’s task. Thanks largely to these compatibilities large global companies use PHP as the basis of their applications. WordPress is a great example of a company that focuses on the programming of its applications in PHP. We can get an idea of why WordPress is the leading choice for website development.
• The use of plugins makes PHP an essential part of WordPress since they must have fluid communication with the server, this being one of the greatest qualities of PHP.
• It is important to mention that PHP can be combined with other languages as powerful as Java.
• It can generate these files by itself and store them in the file system itself instead of displaying them on the screen, using these files to create dynamic content.
• It can also interact with other servers using any protocol. That is, dynamic content can be sourced from other sites as well as from databases.

What are its benefits?

The PHP programming language is available on all popular operating systems. PHP is also compatible with most web servers such as Apache. Benefits for users include:

• PHP can be used on any virtual operating system and any type of server. Applications can be programmed procedurally
• can be programmed in a procedural or project-oriented manner.
• You can dynamically generate HTML, image, PDF, or Flash files with PHP.
• PHP supports a variety of databases, which makes this scripting language ideal for creating database-driven Web sites.
• PHP fully supports server-side communication with other protocols.
• A minor drawback of programming with PHP is that it generally generates encrypted URLs for users and fewer keywords for search engines. However, a simple mod_rewrite can be used to convert PHP-generated URLs into SEF URLs (search engine-friendly URLs).

PHP Functions

PHP functions refer to server-side scripts. PHP can do everything that a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program can do, and it handles the exchange of data between servers and software. Therefore, PHP can collect data and create websites with dynamic content.

Three main features characterize PHP in particular:

• Server-side programming: This requires three components: a PHP parser, a web browser, and a web server. The latter is connected to your PHP installation. PHP programs are accessed through a web browser. The browser displays web pages that are stored on the server and generated with PHP. Server-side programming is ideal for testing your website before it is published.
• Command line programming: PHP scripts can be written without a browser or server. In this case, all you need is a PHP parser. These scripts are useful for common tasks performed on the web.
• Creating desktop applications: This feature is not used as often as web page programming. However, due to its complexity, PHP is well-suited for developing desktop applications that can be used on multiple platforms.