What is PHP?

The server-side scripting language PHP is one of the most popular languages in the world. That’s because it’s open source and easy to learn. PHP runs server-side, has a huge community, and is an integral part of major web applications.

What does PHP stand for?

Originally “PHP” was an abbreviation for “Personal Home Page Tools” but is now used as a recursive acronym for “PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor”. While the term may be well known, it doesn’t entirely explain what PHP is. PHP is a scripting language that is mainly used in the context of dynamic websites and applications. The language was invented back in 1995 by Danish-Canadian developer Rasmus Lerdorf and first released in the same year. Its syntax is based on C and Perl and it is open source. PHP is widely used because it’s considered easy to learn.

What makes PHP so special?

PHP’s biggest feature is probably that it is a scripting language that’s executed exclusively server-side. This distinguishes it from other popular web programming languages like CSS, HTML, or JavaScript.

PHP source code isn’t transmitted directly to a web browser. First, it passes through a so-called interpreter at the server level. This interpreter processes requests made by clients, converts them, and sends them back to the browser. While the output is often a HTML document, PHP can also generate images or PDF documents, among other things. The script always stays on the server and only the result is forwarded to the end device.

Many large content management systems use PHP. Drupal, Joomla, TYPO3, and WordPress are just a few of the many systems based on PHP. This is one of the reasons why the language is widely used worldwide and by numerous web services. It’s considered the most popular and successful server-side programming language! Even though the number of users has dropped a bit in recent years due to new competitors, almost 80 percent of all websites still partially rely on PHP.

What’s PHP used for?

If you know what PHP is, common uses of the language are probably obvious to you. Although there are many ways to use it, these three areas are most popular:

• Server-side programming: Probably the most important area of application. To use the language, three components are required, which are a PHP parser, a web server, and a web browser. The server connects to a PHP installer so that the browser can access content stored on the server. This also makes it possible to test websites for functionality and susceptibility to errors before they’re published.
• Command-line programming: If you only use a PHP parser, you can write and use PHP scripts without a server or browser. PHP parsers are suited for smaller programs for word processing or on-website tasks. These kinds of scripts work together with cron or the Task Scheduler.
• Desktop applications: In principle, you can also use PHP to create desktop applications with a graphical user interface. But since the steps can be quite complex, this approach is better suited if you already have a deep understanding of the language.

What are the benefits of PHP?

PHP’s popularity doesn’t come down to luck. The scripting language offers users numerous advantages. These are its key benefits:

• Versatility: In our explanation of what PHP is, we’ve already hinted at this. But the versatility of the scripting language goes beyond its areas of application. PHP can be easily integrated with the most common operating systems and most web servers.
• Learning curve: Compared to many other scripting languages, PHP is very easy to learn. After a short time, you’ll be able to use the language in many areas. And due to its enormous scope, the language is also a great choice even if you’re already a pro.
• Output: Although PHP is mainly used for the output of HTML content, numerous other formats are also possible. The language can also dynamically generate images, animations, or PDF documents, among other things, while also supporting XML files.
• Databases and protocols: Most databases are also supported by PHP, making the language great for building database-driven applications. In addition, communication with services that use protocols like HTTP, IMAP, or LDAP is just as possible as interaction with Java objects.
• Open source: PHP is open source and can be freely used and modified. This gives you many possibilities, but also makes it wallet friendly.
• Community: The scripting language’s great popularity means there’s a great deal of documentation on PHP. Its huge community not only provides newcomers with advice and support, but also continuously develops the language.

What are the disadvantages of PHP?

The positive things about PHP can also become disadvantages under certain circumstances. While you can learn the language quickly, some users overestimate themselves and neglect security standards. This can make web pages an easy target for attacks. That’s why it’s important to carefully test the website and check the scripts again and again to make sure they’re up to date.

If the code isn’t written cleanly, this can also have detrimental effects on the performance of the page. Especially with high numbers of visitors, PHP scripts can become vulnerable. But with a little attention to detail, you can avoid these kinds of problems altogether.