Introduction to PHP Programming

PHP has recently been recognised as the most popular scripting language on the web, the reasons will vary, The most popular use of PHP scripting language is to enhance Web pages. Initially the effortless learning curve will prove extremely attractive.
Noted uses of PHP:

• creating username and password login pages
• check details from a form
• create forums
• picture galleries
• surveys
• and a whole lot more.

php embedded in it however a quick look into the code using the browsers view source tool will suggest otherwise, don't be deluded this is just php doing what it was made for.

PHP is known as a server-sided language. That's because the PHP doesn't get executed on your computer, but on the computer you requested the page from so the php script never makes it to your web browser It is an optional service that the web sever may use to construct a dynamic web page. The results are then handed over to your browser in client side format. Other scripting languages you may have heard of are ASP, Python and Perl. (You don't need to know any of these to make a start on PHP. In fact, these tutorials assume that you have no programming experience at all.)

To Summarise PHP is a Server Side language which means the server not the browser uses it. And the result of this is a progression from static like pages to Dynamic pages which can enhance your web page comparable to professional database driven sites. "Hypertext Pre-processor". But that would make it PHP, surely? An alternative explanation comes from the emarketing network dictionary (http://www.marketing.org .nz/emarket_ dictionary.php), and we prefer this version! They say: "The initials come from the earliest version of the program, which was called 'Personal Home Page Tools' ". At least you get the letters "PHP" in the right order!

But PHP is so popular that if you're looking for a career in the web design/web scripting industry then you just have to know it! In these tutorials, we'll get you up and running. And, hopefully, it will be a lot easier than you think.