Course Name: PHP Framework
Topic: PHP Introduction
Prepared By: Gaurav Jain
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
CONTENTS
Introduction of Unit
What is a PHP.
What is PHP File.
What Can PHP Do.
Why Learn PHP.
History of PHP.
Features of PHP.
Installation of PHP.
Objectives
Objectives
This unit introduces the basics of PHP as a server-side
scripting language for web development. It covers What is
PHP, What is PHP File, What Can PHP Do, Why learn PHP,
History, Features, Installation. By the end, learners will
have a solid foundation for more advanced PHP
programming and dynamic web development.
Course Outcomes
This course enables learners to understand PHP’s role in
server-side web development, grasp it's What is PHP, What is
PHP File, What Can PHP Do, Why learn PHP, History, Features,
Installation. Students will also evaluate PHP’s performance and
usability, building a strong foundation for advanced
programming and dynamic web applications.
WHAT IS PHP?
PHP is an acronym for “PHP”: Hypertext Preprocessor.
(Personal Home Page).
PHP is a Widely-Used, Open-Source Scripting Language.
PHP Scripts are executed on the server.
PHP is Free to download and use.
PHP was created by Rasmus Lerdorf in 1994 but appeared in
the market in 1995. PHP 8.4.5 is the latest version of PHP,
which was released on 13 March 2025.
t is an interpreted language, i.e., there is no need for
WHAT IS PHP?
•It supports object-oriented programming.
•Example:-
<?php
echo "Hello, World!";
?>
WHAT IS PHP FILE?
• File extension: “.php”.
• Executed on the server: The PHP code is processed on the
web server before the result is sent to the browser.
• Can include HTML, CSS, JavaScript: A PHP file often contains
a mix of PHP and HTML to create dynamic web pages.
• Used for: Creating dynamic websites, handling forms,
interacting with databases (like MySQL), managing sessions,
sending emails, and more.
WHAT CAN PHP DO?
• PHP can generate dynamic Page Content.
• PHP can Create, Open, read, Write, delete, and close Files on the
server.
• PHP can collect Form data.
• PHP can send and receive Cookies.
• PHP can add, delete, modify data in your database.
• PHP can be used to control User-access.
• PHP can encrypt data.
Why Learn PHP?
PHP is widely used in web development nowadays. It is simple and
easy to learn this language. PHP can develop dynamic websites
easily. But, before learning PHP, you must have the basic knowledge
of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. And also learn Ajax, XML, JSON,
and jQuery technologies for better implementation of PHP.
Here, pointed out some of the major advantages of learning
PHP:
•PHP is easy to learn and implement
•It is open-source and free
•Compatible with multiple platforms
•It supports server-side scripting
•It can be easily embedded with HTML
History of PHP?
•PHP 1.0 (June 8, 1995):
Created by Rasmus Lerdorf to track visits to his online resume.
•PHP 2.0 (November 1, 1997):
First standalone scripting language with form handling, database support, and built-in
variables.
•PHP 3.0 (1998):
Parser rewritten by Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans; language renamed to PHP:
Hypertext Preprocessor.
History of PHP?
•PHP 4.0 (May 2000):
Powered by the Zend Engine; introduced better performance and support for more
complex web apps.
•PHP 5.0 (2004):
Added Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), PHP Data Objects (PDO), and
performance improvements.
•PHP 7.0 (2015):
Introduced return type declarations, scalar type hints, and major performance
boosts.
Features of PHP ?
1. Open Source:
Free to download and use.
Supported by a large community.
2. Easy to Learn :
Simple syntax similar to C, Java, and Perl.
Beginner-friendly for web development.
3. Cross-Platform Compatibility
Runs on various platforms: Windows, Linux, Unix, Mac OS.
Compatible with most servers like Apache, Nginx, and IIS.
4. Server-Side Scripting
PHP runs on the server and generates HTML for the client.
Useful for creating dynamic web pages.
Features of PHP ?
5. Embedded in HTML
PHP code can be easily embedded within HTML.
Allows for seamless web page development.
6. Database Integration
Supports multiple databases: MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle,
etc.
Makes it easy to create data-driven web applications
7. Fast Performance
PHP scripts execute faster than many other scripting languages.
Suitable for high-traffic websites.
8. Supports OOP (Object-Oriented Programming)
Encourages modular and reusable code.
Includes classes, inheritance, interfaces, and more.
Installing PHP on Windows
1) Download XAMPP from https://www.apachefriends.org
2) Run the installer and follow the steps.
3) Select components: Ensure Apache and PHP are checked.
4) Complete installation and open the XAMPP Control Panel.
5) Start Apache to run PHP.
6) Place your .php files in the htdocs folder (e.g., C:\xampp\htdocs).
7) Access it in your browser: http://localhost/filename.php
Thank You!!
