PHP: The Web's Engine
Powering the majority of the internet.
Learn the server-side language that runs WordPress and billions of web pages.
PHP: The Engine
Behind the Web.
PHP is a tool that runs on servers to build dynamic websites. It takes plain HTML pages and makes them think, remember, and change based on what the user wants. Here is exactly how it works.
The Restaurant Analogy
The Menu (HTML)
HTML is like the menu at a restaurant. It looks nice and tells you what is possible, but it cannot cook the food. It is completely static.
The Chef (PHP)
PHP is the chef in the kitchen. When you order food (click a button), the chef takes your order, prepares exactly what you asked for, and plates it.
The Pantry (Database)
The chef needs ingredients. The database (like MySQL) is the pantry where all the data, user accounts, and text are stored securely.
Client-Side vs. Server-Side
The Client
Your web browser (Chrome, Safari). It can only read HTML, CSS, and simple scripts.
The Server
The distant computer where PHP lives. It processes the request, builds the page, and sends back plain HTML.
Key Rule: The user NEVER sees your PHP code. They only see the HTML that PHP creates and sends back.
Static vs. Dynamic Websites
| Feature | Static (HTML Only) | Dynamic (PHP) |
|---|---|---|
| Content | Always the same for everyone. | Changes based on who is logged in. |
| Updating | You must rewrite the code for every new page. | You just add text to a database; PHP creates the page automatically. |
| User Input | Cannot save forms or logins securely. | Easily saves data, processes payments, and logs users in. |
| Best For | Simple portfolios, single-page flyers. | Blogs, stores, social networks, complex apps. |
PHP & MySQL: The Perfect Pair
A website without a database is like a person with no memory. PHP needs a place to store articles, user passwords, and settings.
This is where MySQL comes in. MySQL is a database system. PHP speaks to MySQL perfectly. PHP asks MySQL for information, MySQL hands it over, and PHP puts it on the webpage.
Result: "Name: John Doe"
What Does PHP Code Look Like?
PHP code is wrapped inside special tags. When the server sees <?php, it knows it is
time to start working. Let's look at a very simple example.
<?php
// 1. We create a memory block called a variable.
$userName = "Sarah";
// 2. We use 'echo' to print things to the screen.
echo "<h1>Hello, " . $userName . "!</h1>";
?>Code Translation:
In plain English: "Store the name Sarah in a box. Then, print out an HTML heading that says 'Hello, Sarah!'". The user will only see the final heading. They will never see the code that made it.
Why Developers Love It: Mixing With HTML
One of the best things about PHP is its simplicity. You do not have to build a complex system just to show a date or a name. You can drop PHP directly into the middle of a normal HTML file.
Copyright ©
<?php echo date("Y"); ?>
</div>
Copyright ©
2026
</div>
Notice how the code automatically fetches the current year (2026) without you having to update the HTML every January!
The WordPress Empire
PHP powers Content Management Systems (CMS). A CMS is software that lets normal people build and manage websites without writing any code.
The biggest CMS in the world is WordPress. Because WordPress is built entirely on PHP, this means PHP single-handedly runs a massive chunk of the entire internet.
of all websites on Earth
Use WordPress, which means they are running on PHP right now.
Everyday Uses of PHP
You interact with PHP every single day without knowing it. Whenever a website does something complex, PHP is likely doing the heavy lifting in the background.
User Logins
Checking if your username and password match the database.
E-Commerce
Adding items to a cart, calculating totals, and talking to the payment processor.
Comments & Posts
Saving what you write in a form and displaying it on a blog or forum.
Sending Emails
Automatically sending you a "Welcome!" or "Reset Password" email.
Variables: Memory Boxes
In PHP, a variable starts with a dollar sign ($). Think of a variable as a labeled
cardboard box where you store information to use later. You can put different types of things in
these boxes.
Making Decisions (If/Else)
A website needs to make choices. Should it show the secret dashboard, or ask the user to log in? PHP
uses if / else logic to create a fork in the road.
Show the user their private messages and account settings.
Redirect them back to the login screen with an error message.
Loops: Doing the Chores
Computers are great at doing boring things over and over. If you have 500 products in your database, you do not write HTML 500 times.
You write the HTML once, and wrap it in a PHP Loop. The loop tells the server: "Do this action for every single item in the database until you run out."
echo "<div>" . $item . "</div>";
}
The Mailbox: Handling Forms
When a user fills out a "Contact Us" form and clicks submit, where does the text go? It is packaged up and sent directly to a PHP file waiting on the server.
// PHP catches the message using $_POST
$message = $_POST['userMessage'];
// Now save it to database!
saveToDatabase($message);
Security: Never Trust the User
Because PHP connects your website directly to your database, bad people might try to type destructive computer code into your forms instead of their name. PHP protects you through "Sanitization"—cleaning the data before using it.
Taking whatever the user typed and immediately pushing it into the database.
Washing the text, stripping out any dangerous code, and THEN saving it.
saveToDB( $clean );
Laravel
The most popular PHP Power Tool.
Frameworks: Power Tools
Writing "raw" PHP is like building a car by mining your own iron. It takes too long. Instead, professional developers use Frameworks.
A framework (like Laravel or Symfony) provides the chassis, the engine, and the wheels for free. You just choose the paint color and the interior. It makes building apps incredibly fast and secure.
Composer: Lego Bricks for Code
Imagine you want your website to generate PDF receipts. Writing the code to draw a PDF from scratch would take months.
In the PHP world, there is a tool called Composer. It is a massive free store full of "packages" (code other people already wrote). With one command, you can download a "PDF Generator Package" and snap it into your project like a Lego brick.
✓ Downloaded PDF Builder (Ready to use)
Understanding Errors (Do Not Panic)
When writing PHP, your screen will eventually turn white and show a scary error message. This is completely normal. PHP is very strict about spelling and grammar.
;) at the end of Line 4!"
Errors are not enemies; they are the server trying to tell you exactly where the typo is.
Is PHP Still Good Today?
There are many new, shiny tools for building websites. Some people say PHP is old. But in the technology world, "old" often means "tested, reliable, and strong." Here is why professionals still choose it.
Incredibly Fast
Newer versions (like PHP 8) have been heavily upgraded. It runs websites lightning-fast compared to older versions.
Cheap Hosting
Almost every web hosting company in the world supports PHP out of the box. It is the cheapest and easiest code to put on the internet.
Massive Community
Because it has been around for decades, every problem you will ever face has already been solved by someone else online.
Easy to Learn
Its simplicity allows new developers to quickly create functional web solutions without spending months studying theory.
The Career Path: Making Money
Because PHP runs a huge portion of the internet (especially local businesses using WordPress), there is a constant, massive demand for people who know how to read and write it.
Freelancing & Agencies
Small to medium businesses need custom themes, bug fixes, and new features on their sites. PHP developers dominate the freelance market.
Enterprise (Laravel)
Large tech companies and startups use PHP (via Laravel) to build massive web applications, offering high-paying backend engineering jobs.
Your Action Plan: Get Started
Get a Local Server
Your computer cannot read PHP normally. Download a free program like XAMPP to give your computer a fake server environment.
Create a File
Open a plain text editor (like Notepad or VS Code). Save a brand
new file and name it exactly index.php.
Write the Code
Type the PHP opening tag, write a simple echo command to say hello, and close the tag. Save your document.
View in Browser
Open your web browser and type localhost. Your fake
server will process the code and show you the result!
More in this series
Master more skills with other tutorials from the Web Development series.
Data Management
- T-SQL: Transact-SQL: Microsoft's proprietary extension to SQL.
- PL/SQL: Oracle's Database Language: Procedural extensions to SQL.
- SQL: Structured Query Language: Manage and query relational data.
Systems Programming
- V: Simple, Fast, Safe: Compiled language for maintainable software.
- Nim: Efficient, Expressive, Elegant: Compiled systems programming language.
- Crystal: Fast as C, Slick as Ruby: High performance with beautiful syntax.
- Carbon: An Experimental Successor to C++: Performance with modern language features.
- Zig: Modern Systems Programming Language: Performance, safety, and simplicity.
- Assembly: Low-Level Machine Code: Direct hardware control and performance.
- Ada: Reliable Systems Programming: Safety and concurrency for critical systems.
- Haskell: Purely Functional Excellence: The gold standard of functional programming.
- OCaml: Pragmatic Functional Programming: Speed, safety, and expressive power.
- Erlang: The Language of Reliability: Building systems that never sleep.
- Rust: Safe Systems Programming: Performance without the fear.
- C++: High-Performance Engineering: The language of performance and control.
- C: The Foundations of Computing: Understanding the machine at its core.
Data Science
- Mojo: AI Programming Language: Python usability with C performance.
- R: Statistics and Data Analysis: Statistical computing and graphics.
- Julia: High-Performance Scientific Computing: Fast, dynamic language for numerical analysis.
Scientific Computing
- MATLAB: Engineering and Numerical Computing: Powerful tools for engineers and scientists.
Graphics Programming
- HLSL: DirectX Shading Language: Write shaders for DirectX graphics.
- GLSL: Graphics Shading Language: Write shaders for real-time graphics.
Game Development
- GDScript: Godot Engine Scripting: Rapid game development with Godot.
Hardware Design
- VHDL: Very High-Speed Integrated Circuit HDL: Describe and simulate digital systems.
- Verilog: Hardware Description Language: Design digital circuits and FPGAs.
Enterprise & Backend
- F#: Succinct and Robust .NET Logic: Functional-first programming for the modern enterprise.
- Scala: Scalable Software Engineering: Merging Object-Oriented and Functional paradigms.
- Go: Built for the Cloud: Reliable, simple, and incredibly fast.
- C#: Modern Enterprise Logic: The backbone of the .NET ecosystem.
- Java: Enterprise-Grade Logic: The foundation of robust software engineering.
Web Development
- Elixir: Reliable and Scalable Logic: Building high-performance, distributed applications.
- Ruby: Designer's Favorite: A language for developer happiness.
- PHP: The Web's Engine: Powering the majority of the internet.
- TypeScript: Type-Safe Programming: Building scalable JavaScript applications.
- JavaScript: The Language of the Web: Powering interactive user experiences.
Mobile Development
- Swift: The Future of Apple Apps: Fast, safe, and modern.
- Kotlin: Modern App Development: The concise and safe JVM language.
- Dart: Client-Optimized Logic: Fast apps on any platform.
Scripting & Automation
- PowerShell: Windows Automation: The ultimate tool for IT professionals.
- Perl: The Swiss Army Chainsaw: Flexible and powerful text processing.
- Bash: The Power of Automation: Make your computer do the hard work.
- Python: Versatile Programming: Simplicity and power for every use case.