What is PHP? What is Syntax in PHP?

As digital innovations accelerate, the number of unused or less preferred tools continues to grow. While some systems may appear to be in decline based on usage frequency, they might still serve a wider range of functions than expected. PHP is often part of these discussions, seemingly overshadowed by the rise of other server-side languages like JavaScript (Node.js), Python, Golang, and others. But is PHP really an outdated language?

Today, PHP is still used to power nearly 80% of all websites. This means that if someone visits 10 websites in a day, there's a chance 8 of them are running on platforms that use PHP. As a language that empowers developers to create dynamic web experiences, PHP is the gateway to building sophisticated web applications and skillfully managing data. If you're considering trying out a 'Hello World' in PHP, or you simply want to explore it further, here are the details.

What is PHP?

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is an open-source, server-side programming language used for creating websites, applications, customer relationship management systems, and much more. It is a widely used general-purpose language that can be embedded into HTML, thanks to its HTML function, which simplifies HTML code. Since its release, PHP has had 8 versions as of 2022, with version 8.1 being particularly popular for websites today.

How is PHP Used?

There are three essential functions needed to effectively code with PHP.

• PHP Parser: The parser takes PHP code, analyzes it, and outputs the relevant syntax tree that converts the source code into a format that machines can more easily understand.
• Web Server: The server is the program that runs PHP files to generate web pages.
• Web Browser: The browser allows you to view the PHP page through the server, just like any other content on the web.

What is a PHP File?

Files with the .php extension contain Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) code and are used to write server-side scripts that run on web servers. They are typically used to generate web pages that produce HTML through the PHP engine running on a web server. These files are compatible with various platforms such as Windows, Linux, Unix, and macOS, and they work successfully on all commonly used servers today, including Apache and IIS. PHP supports various databases like MySQL, offering versatile usage.

The HTML content generated by the PHP engine is what users view in their web browsers. Since PHP code is executed on the server, users only have access to the generated HTML content and not the PHP code itself. Therefore, when accessing a PHP page, the user interacts with the HTML output created by the server. PHP files can combine CSS, HTML, JavaScript, and PHP code within a single file. The PHP code is executed on the server, and the result is sent to the browser as plain HTML. PHP files can be opened and edited with text editors. Applications such as Adobe Dreamweaver and Eclipse PHP Development Tools offer an appropriate environment for writing and modifying PHP code.

How to Open PHP Files?

Windows' built-in Notepad program is an example of a PHP opener, but syntax highlighting is quite different when coding in PHP. For this reason, a specialized editor is usually preferred. Some text editors include syntax highlighting; for instance, Microsoft Visual Studio Code is an ideal text editor for certain options. Other ways to edit a PHP file include Sublime Text, Coda, Codeanywhere, Programmer’s Notepad, Vim, and CodeLobster IDE. While these programs allow you to edit or modify the file, they don’t enable you to actually run a PHP server. For that, you would need support such as Apache Web Server.

What Can Be Done with PHP?

With PHP, a software developer can accomplish most of the functions they might need. These primarily fall into three main areas.

• PHP's core strength lies in its use for creating server-side scripts. To perform this function, you need a PHP parser, a web server, and a web browser.
• Command-line scripting is an ideal solution, especially for scheduled scripts using cron (Linux) or Task Scheduler (Windows). It is also highly functional for simple text processing.
• While PHP may not be the top language for creating desktop applications, it offers various options for advanced web developers.

In addition to all these functions, PHP can generate dynamic page content. It can open, read, write, delete, and close files on the server. It can collect form data. You can send and receive cookies, encrypt data, and add, delete, or modify data in a database. You can also use it to control user access. And you're not limited to generating HTML output with PHP—you can output images, PDF files, and any text like XHTML and XML. It doesn't seem like it’s going out of date anytime soon, does it?

What is Syntax in PHP?

A PHP script is processed on the server, and the resulting plain HTML is sent to the browser. A PHP script starts with:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h1>My first PHP page</h1>
<?php
echo "Hello World!";
?>
</body>
</html>

Script Blocks

PHP script blocks start with <?php and end with ?>. In the example below, the output is the text 'PHP is easy!':

<html>
<head>
<title>PHP Syntax Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
echo "PHP is easy!";
?>
</body>
</html>

Semi-Colons

Every PHP code line ends with a semicolon (;). This tells the server that a particular statement is finished.

Comments

In the programming world, comments refer to small annotations within the code that help other programmers understand its meaning. If you need to revisit the code after months or years, these comments can be quite helpful. These comments are not visible to users.

To write comments in PHP, place two forward slashes (//) before single-line comments. For comments spanning multiple lines, open the block with a forward slash and an asterisk (/*), and close it with an asterisk and a forward slash (*/).

<?php
// Single line comment
/*
This comment is so
long that it spans
multiple lines.
*/
?>

White Space, Carriage Returns

You can use tabs, spaces, and line breaks to indent and format your code. These functions won’t cause any issues for PHP as long as each line is properly ended with a semicolon.

PHP is not only a language aimed at programmers but also a powerful tool for anyone looking to create dynamic and interactive web experiences. Whether you're an experienced developer looking to enhance your skills or someone just starting a career in software development, PHP scripts are a great starting point to unlock your potential in the digital world. Techcareer.net is ready to provide you with all the support you need at the beginning of your career and beyond through Bootcamp training sessions and Hackathon events conducted by experts in their field. Start making space for PHP in your career today and experience your journey alongside the pioneers of the online world!