PHP is a widely used, open-source server-side scripting language primarily designed for web development. It is embedded directly into HTML and generates dynamic content on web pages, making it essential for building data-driven websites. It allows developers to handle database interactions, session management, and form handling tasks.
- PHP code is executed on the server, generating HTML output sent to the client's browser.
- It is a dynamically typed language, allowing variables to change types during execution, offering flexibility in coding.
- PHP is platform-independent, which means it can run on various operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- PHP supports session management, which allows tracking user activities across different pages on a website.
Note: The latest version, PHP 8.4 (released in 2024), making PHP faster, more efficient, and feature-rich for modern web applications.
To learn more about it follow the article - PHP Versions
PHP Hello World Program
To start with PHP, you need to install it. Follow the steps below to install it on your system.
- Install PHP in your Windows System | Linux | MacOS
- Set up PHP Project
After installing PHP, let's write your first PHP program. Here's a simple code example:
PHP <?php echo "Hello, World!"; ?>
Why Learn PHP?
As per Stack Overflow's recent survey, PHP ranked as the 7th most used language for web development. Here are some reasons why you should learn PHP in 2025:
- Improved Web Development Efficiency: PHP simplifies the process of creating dynamic web pages and applications, especially when working with databases, form handling, and user authentication.
- Better Integration with Databases: PHP works seamlessly with a variety of databases, including MySQL and PostgreSQL, making it ideal for data-driven websites and applications.
- Works Well with HTML: PHP is embedded directly within HTML, allowing developers to create dynamic content easily and integrate server-side logic with client-side presentation.
- Wide Hosting Support: PHP is supported by nearly all web hosting services, including shared hosting providers, making it easy to deploy applications without complex setup.
- Works With Popular Frameworks: PHP is commonly used with frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter, which improve productivity, security, and maintainability.
- Catch Errors Early: While PHP is dynamically typed, its extensive community and built-in functions help catch many errors during development, preventing them from affecting production systems.
- More Job Opportunities: PHP is widely used across the web, and many businesses, especially those running content management systems like WordPress, seek PHP developers to maintain and build their websites and applications.
Getting Started with PHP: A Beginner’s Guide
This PHP tutorial provides you with a step-by-step learning journey for mastering php. You will start with php fundamentals and then move on to advanced topics.
By the end of this tutorial, you will have a solid foundation in PHP and be ready to build scalable and maintainable web applications.
1. PHP Basics
Once your environment is ready, we’ll explore the core concepts that will form the foundation of your PHP skills. Learn how to write dynamic web applications, manage variables, perform type casting, and work with control structures.
2. PHP Functions
Functions are key to creating efficient and reusable code. This section will teach you how to create functions in PHP, from basic functions to more advanced anonymous and variadic functions.
3. PHP Beginner Projects
Now that you have a basic understanding of PHP, start with some beginner-level projects to solidify your concepts and apply them in real-world applications.
4. Arrays and Superglobals
Arrays are essential for managing data in PHP, and superglobals are powerful variables that provide access to global data. This section covers array types and essential superglobal variables that are crucial for managing form data, sessions, and cookies
5. PHP Forms and Validation
Learning how to securely handle user input is essential. This section will show you how to create forms, validate user input, and apply essential security measures like CSRF protection.
6. File Handling in PHP
Working with files is a common task in many web applications. In this section, we will cover the techniques for reading, writing, uploading, and securing files in PHP.
- PHP File Handling
- Reading Files PHP :
fopen(), fread(), file_get_contents() - Writing Files:
fwrite(), file_put_contents() - Handling File Uploads and Permissions
- File Security Considerations
- Directory Manipulation and Deletion
7. PHP Intermediate Projects
Continue to solidify your PHP knowledge by building intermediate-level projects. These projects will challenge you to apply your skills in more complex scenarios.
8. PHP Object Oriented Programming
PHP Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) allows you to structure your code using classes and objects, promoting code reusability, organization, and scalability.
9. Error Handling and Exception Handling
Error handling and exception handling in PHP allow you to manage runtime errors and exceptions effectively, ensuring smooth execution and providing a mechanism for graceful error recovery and debugging.
10. Advanced PHP Concepts
As you become more proficient with PHP, you’ll need to learn about advanced concepts like caching, profiling, memory management, and PHP-FPM. These techniques optimize the performance and scalability of your PHP applications.
- Profiling Techniques and Performance Optimization
- Caching Strategies and Memory Management
- PHP-FPM and Configuration Tuning
- Introduction to Namespaces and Autoloading (Composer)
- Dependency Injection and Design Patterns (MVC)
11. PHP Testing and Debugging
Testing and debugging are essential skills for ensuring your code is reliable and error-free. This section introduces you to unit testing with PHPUnit, debugging tools, and effective debugging techniques.
12. PHP Advanced Projects
Now that you’ve covered most of the key PHP concepts, it’s time to work on some advanced projects to further strengthen your skills and gain hands-on experience:
13. Additional Resources and Next Steps
In this final section, we’ll provide links to advanced resources, frameworks (like Laravel), and online communities where you can continue your PHP journey. You’ll also be introduced to modern PHP frameworks, as well as tools like Composer, Git, and Docker, which are essential for professional PHP development.
PHP Tutorial - Prerequisites
This PHP tutorial is designed for beginners! No prior knowledge of PHP is required, but a basic understanding of HTML and web development concepts will help you get started. After completing this tutorial, you’ll have a solid foundation in PHP and be ready to build dynamic and interactive web applications.
Best Approach to Learn PHP
You can complete this PHP tutorial in approximately 12 weeks.
- In the first two weeks, you'll cover PHP basics, including variables, data types, and operators.
- Week three will focus on functions, followed by beginner-level projects in weeks four and five.
- Weeks six and seven will dive into arrays, superglobals, and session management.
- Week eight will cover form handling and validation, while week nine will focus on file handling.
- In week ten, you’ll work on intermediate projects, and week eleven will cover object-oriented programming concepts.
- The final week will focus on error handling and advanced PHP concepts. By the end of the 12 weeks, you’ll have a strong foundation in PHP and be capable of building dynamic web applications.
Interview Questions
After completing all the sections of this tutorial, before heading to your interview, you can go through this section, which provides commonly asked PHP interview questions to test your knowledge and boost your confidence!
For a quick recap of PHP read the article - PHP Cheat Sheet
Libraries and Frameworks
PHP libraries and frameworks play an essential role in modern web development. They offer built-in functions and tools that enhance the functionality of web applications, making them more dynamic and interactive. Libraries handle common tasks such as database interactions, email sending, and file management, which allows developers to focus on core application logic.
PHP Tutorial - Libraries and FrameworksPHP vs Other Programming Languages
Below is a comparison of PHP with the other some top backend development libraries and frameworks:
Feature | PHP | Python | Node.js |
|---|
Type | Interpreted | Interpreted | Interpreted |
|---|
Paradigm | Multi-paradigm (procedural, object-oriented) | Multi-paradigm (object-oriented, procedural, functional) | Event-driven, non-blocking I/O, single-threaded |
|---|
Memory Management | Automatic (Garbage collection) | Automatic (Garbage collection) | Automatic (Garbage collection) |
|---|
Syntax | Simple | Simple | Simple |
|---|
Use Cases | Web development, server-side scripting, CMS, e-commerce platforms | Web development, data analysis, machine learning, automation | Real-time applications, web development, APIs |
|---|
Community Support | Strong | Strong | Strong |
|---|
Performance | Moderate | Moderate | High (due to non-blocking I/O) |
|---|
Concurrency | Synchronous (with blocking I/O) | Synchronous (with blocking I/O) | Asynchronous, event-driven |
|---|
Notable Frameworks/Libraries | Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, WordPress | Django, Flask | Express.js, NestJS, Koa.js |
|---|
List of Companies Using PHP
These are some popular companies that use PHP in their workflow:
Company | Description |
|---|
Facebook | Facebook's early versions and many back-end services were built using PHP. |
|---|
GeeksforGeeks | GeeksforGeeks is built using PHP. |
|---|
Wikipedia | Wikipedia uses PHP for creating dynamic content and managing its vast database. |
|---|
Slack | Slack uses PHP for its server-side backend development and user interaction. |
|---|
Etsy | Etsy relies on PHP for its e-commerce platform, handling product listings and transactions. |
|---|
Tumblr | Tumblr uses PHP to power its dynamic blog platform and content management. |
|---|
Yahoo | Yahoo uses PHP for web services and its dynamic content generation. |
|---|
Shopify | Shopify uses PHP for e-commerce back-end services and integrating with various platforms. |
|---|
Mailchimp | Mailchimp uses PHP to manage its email marketing services and customer data. |
|---|
Career & Jobs in PHP
PHP offers a wide range of career opportunities, as it is one of the most popular server-side languages used in web development, particularly for building dynamic websites and applications. Here are some top career paths for PHP developers:
Career | Average Salary (INR) Per Annum | Average Salary (USD) Per Annum |
|---|
PHP Developer | ₹500,000 – ₹1,200,000 | $60,000 – $110,000 |
|---|
Front-End Developer | ₹600,000 – ₹1,400,000 | $65,000 – $120,000 |
|---|
Full Stack Developer | ₹700,000 – ₹1,500,000 | $75,000 – $130,000 |
|---|
Back-End Developer | ₹600,000 – ₹1,300,000 | $70,000 – $125,000 |
|---|
Web Developer | ₹500,000 – ₹1,200,000 | $55,000 – $100,000 |
|---|
Laravel Developer | ₹600,000 – ₹1,300,000 | $70,000 – $125,000 |
|---|
Symfony Developer | ₹700,000 – ₹1,600,000 | $75,000 – $135,000 |
|---|
WordPress Developer | ₹500,000 – ₹1,200,000 | $55,000 – $100,000 |
|---|
PHP Software Engineer | ₹500,000 – ₹1,500,000 | $65,000 – $120,000 |
|---|
Interesting Facts About PHP
Here are some interesting facts and features that highlight the importance of PHP in modern web development:
- Interesting Facts About PHP Basics
- Interesting Facts About Functions in PHP
- Interesting Facts About Arrays and Superglobals in PHP
- Interesting Facts About Forms and Validations in PHP
- Interesting Facts About Object-Oriented Programming in PHP
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