What Is PHP?

PHP is a computer language that has expanded the capabilities of HTML; but, although you may know it is used in the creation of websites, do you know exactly what is PHP? In the field of website design, new technologies and languages are popping up regularly. Each one has the ability to handle some particular task in a faster or easier way than other languages. PHP, one such advancement, is a scripting language that is executed on the server side of a connection. 

Websites are stored on servers in cyberspace. The server holds all the files for one or more websites and supplies the needed information to users on the web that are requesting to view the site.

Each page of the website provides text, graphical or perhaps video information to a user. The site can be written in two forms: a static form and/or a dynamic form.

• The static form responds to requests for information in a purely regurgitation manner. There is no creative work required; it simply transmits what is written in an HTML file on the server.
• The dynamic form of a site can interact with the user. The site is able to provide exactly what the user needs in the way the user desires it to be presented.

While there is, of course, more complex technical differences between static and dynamic information, this is the crux of the differences for most users. The site that provides interactive control is usually more interesting than a static site.

What Is PHP?

So, what is PHP and how does it fit in? PHP is not only a scripting language but it is also a preprocessing engine. When a client's machine connects to the server and requests one of your HTML pages that also contains PHP coding, then a preprocessing of the PHP script will be performed and the result sent to the client machine as HTML.

A significant benefit to this method is that those that view your pages will have no idea if they contain PHP or not. This allows you to incorporate very elegant features without having to give away your trade secrets.

PHP and Databases

Many sites use MySQL or other databases to provide much of the information that client’s request. The answers to client queries are available in the database and are formatted and sent to the client’s machine as HTML code. This feature allows entire or partial HTML pages that are customized to the needs of the client to be generated in real time.

PHP Products

PHP is part of the open source movement, which means the software is freely distributable and free of charge. Users and developers are given access to the source code for PHP and allowed to modify it for their own uses and purposes without charge.

This makes the use of PHP more attractive from a financial aspect and its flexibility makes it a great addition to the tools that are available to website designers in today’s market.

Other Benefits of PHP

The PHP language adds other benefits to the website design landscape. It is able to run on virtually any platform (IBM, UNIX, Apple or others). The code is available in versions that are specific to the type of platform you are using.

In addition, while the server used for a website that incorporates PHP must have a PHP engine running on it, that requirement is only on the server end. This allows the HTML page codes to be written and modified as needed by the web designers, while the client requires no special software at their end to view the pages that the browser generates. An average viewer thus merely requires a browser that can display the contents of the pages.

The question of what is PHP can no longer be answered in a short discussion or looking at a few web pages due to the widespread extent of the use of this language. The simplest answer is that PHP is an extensible language that is used in the dynamic building of web pages. The language of PHP allows the user to write new definitions and functionality into PHP language.