Newbie Question--What is PHP?

[RickB]

OK, so I'm a "digital immagrant" and not a red-wings drinking "digital native." I can live with that.

 

So, what is PHP?

 

Thanks,

Clueless in Virginia

 

AKA: Rick

[Nick_]

Hi Rick!

 

Textbook Definition states..

 

Self-referentially short for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, an open source, server-side, HTML embedded scripting language used to create dynamic Web pages. In an HTML document, PHP script (similar syntax to that of Perl or C ) is enclosed within special PHP tags. Because PHP is embedded within tags, the author can jump between HTML and PHP (similar to ASP and Cold Fusion) instead of having to rely on heavy amounts of code to output HTML. And, because PHP is executed on the server, the client cannot view the PHP code. PHP can perform any task that any CGI program can do, but its strength lies in its compatibility with many types of databases. Also, PHP can talk across networks using IMAP, SNMP, NNTP, POP3, or HTTP. PHP was created sometime in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. During mid 1997, PHP development entered the hands of other contributors. Two of them, Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans, rewrote the parser from scratch to create PHP version 3 (PHP3).

 

Check out this tutorial. Basically it's a scripting language used primarily for web development.

[surefire]

It's a code that programmers (and really, non programmers too) can use to build 'dynamic' pages such as shopping carts, guestbooks, message boards (like this one), and all sorts of database related applications.

 

All of the 'magic' goes on at the server and then regular html is sent to the browser. This is different from javascript... js is client side. So if I turn off javascript in my browser or I have an extremely old browser, I won't see the same thing as the next person. With php (or cgi, python, etc.) the wizardry happens before the first byte is sent to your visitor... so it's much more user friendly.

 

There are some things js can do that server side code can't so I'm not saying one is better. Just different.

 

If you are using a database, you'll most likely be employing server side code.

 

Hope that helps.

[TCH-Don]

Rick,

TCH-Jack has written a great tutorial on php

" Php Minitutorial 1, For anyone who wants to learn php"

 

This has started many of us in the wonderful world of php.

If you only use one feature, include, to include modules (snippets of html) common to each page, its worth learning.

Imagine including a menu in each page, and then adding a new page and just changing the menu file to update the entire site. :heart

 

 

 

P.S. thanks jack!

[RickB]

Jack,

 

Thanks very much for the simplified explanation. I am already absolutely amazed at the helpful TCH responses I'm getting to my questions.

 

Thanks and Happy New Year ,

Rick