Introduction to PHP Hypertext Preprocessor

What is PHP?

PHP is the widely-used, free, and perfectly suited for Web development and can be embedded directly into the HTML code. The PHP syntax is very similar to Perl and C. PHP is often used together with Apache (web server) or IIS on various operating systems.

Define PHP: Basic & Features

• PHP stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor

• PHP is a server-side scripting language

• PHP scripts are executed on the server

• PHP supports many databases

• PHP is an open source software

What is PHP files?

• PHP files can contain text, HTML tags and scripts

• PHP files are returned to the browser as plain HTML

• PHP files have a file extension of ".php", ".php3", or ".phtml"

What is MySQL?

• MySQL is a database server

• MySQL is ideal for both small and large applications

Introduction to Web Environment

Web Application ?

 A web application is an application that is accessed over a network such as the Internet or an intranet.

Static vs Dynamic Web Application

• Static Web (flat page) page that is delivered to the user exactly as stored. 
  


• Dynamic Web is page that generated at the time of access by a user or change as a result of interaction with the user.
  
  

Web Content Technologies 

• Ajax 

• ASP 

• ASP.NET 

• CSS 

• ColdFusion 

• Java 

• JavaScript 

• Perl 

• PHP 

• Ruby 

Purpose of Dynamic Web Site 

• Content Management System (CMS) - Dynamic website is the best way to update website regularly. 

• E- commerce site - The dynamic website is cheaper, easier and the best option to sell your products online.  

• Members database - Dynamic website allows people to manage information through out the websites by using your administration interface. 

• Deliver information to a wider audience - Dynamic websites helps in storing of information in database. 

Client Side Scripting 

• Client-side scripting offers an easy way to provide additional functionality and flexibility to your project. 

• The process with client-side scripting is: – the user requests a Web page from the server – the server finds the page and sends it to the user – the page is displayed on the browser with any scripts running during or after display 

• Example: A JavaScript drop down menu 

Server Side Scripting

• The server sends pages to the user/client on request. The process is:

– the user requests a Web page from the server

– the script in the page is interpreted by the server creating or changing the page content to suit the user and the occasion and/or passing data around 

– the page in its final form is sent to the user and then cannot be changed using server-side scripting 

• Example:  Website and the user clicks to show the products information that retrieve information from database.

Web Server

• A Web server is a program that, using the client/server model to deliver Web content that can be accessed through the Internet.