Introduction to PHP
Posted on 15. Feb, 2010 by admin in Basics
If you are reading this then you are probably just getting your feet wet in PHP. The first thing you are probably wondering is what the heck does PHP stand for, and what can I do with it. First off, the name stands for “PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor.” Taken from PHP’s Official Site PHP is “… a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for Web development and can be embedded into HTML.”
Confused? Don’t be. PHP basically allows you to add functionally to your website, allowing users to register and login to accounts, post and viewcomments and images, etc. If you have ever been to popular websites like Facebook or Digg, you are using PHP without even knowing it!
What You Need
HTML Experience - To be successful with PHP you have to know a little HTML beforehand. If you don’t know HTML or just want to brush up HtmlCodeTutorial is a great place to start.
A Place to Run Your PHP Code – PHP does not magically work by itself. It needs a server to do what is called parsing so it can work. Think of PHP as a cake that you need to bake before you can eat it; the server would be your oven. See the links below if you don’t have a place to run your PHP code yet.
- Keep it On Your Computer with XAMPP ( Link / FREE! ) – Great for people new to PHP. Just download the files, install, and BAM! you have everything you will need for these tutorials. Note: You will not be able to see your files on the internet, just on your own computer.
- Free PHP Account with AwardSpace ( Link / FREE! ) – Just as easy a setup as XAMPP. You do have some limits, but it should be fine for the starting user. Having it hosted online will allow you to share your PHP creations with friends.
Lets Get Started!
If you are all ready to go, lets start learning some PHP.
