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Introduction to PHP
A PHP file may contain text, HTML tags and scripts. Scripts in a PHP file are executed on the server.
What You Should Already Know
Before you continue you should have a basic understanding of the following:
•
HTML / XHTML
•
Some scripting knowledgeIf you want to study these subjects first, find the tutorials on our Home page.
What is PHP?
•
PHP stands for
P
HP:
H
ypertext
P
reprocessor
•
PHP is a server-side scripting language, like ASP
•
PHP scripts are executed on the server
•
PHP supports many databases (MySQL, Informix, Oracle, Sybase, Solid, PostgreSQL, Generic ODBC,etc.)
•
PHP is an open source software (OSS)
•
PHP is free to download and use
What is a PHP File?
•
PHP files may 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
•
MySQL supports standard SQL
•
MySQL compiles on a number of platforms
•
MySQL is free to download and use
PHP + MySQL
•
PHP combined with MySQL are cross-platform (means that you can develop in Windows and serve on aUnix platform)
Why PHP?
•
PHP runs on different platforms (Windows, Linux, Unix, etc.)
•
PHP is compatible with almost all servers used today (Apache, IIS, etc.)
•
PHP is FREE to download from the official PHP resource: www.php.net
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•
PHP is easy to learn and runs efficiently on the server side
Where to Start?
•
Install an Apache server on a Windows or Linux machine
•
Install PHP on a Windows or Linux machine
•
Install MySQL on a Windows or Linux machine
PHP Installation
What do You Need?
This tutorial will not explain how to install PHP, MySQL, or Apache Server.If your server supports PHP - you don't need to do anything! You do not need to compile anything or install anyextra tools - just create some .php files in your web directory - and the server will parse them for you. Most webhosts offer PHP support.However, if your server does not support PHP, you must install PHP. Below is a link to a good tutorial from PHP.neton how to install PHP5:http://www.php.net/manual/en/install.php
Download PHP
Download MySQL Database
Download MySQL for free here:http://www.mysql.com/downloads/index.html
Download Apache Server
PHP Syntax
You cannot view the PHP source code by selecting "View source" in the browser - you will only see the output fromthe PHP file, which is plain HTML. This is because the scripts are executed on the server before the result is sent back to the browser.
Basic PHP Syntax
A PHP scripting block always starts with
<?php
and ends with
?>
. A PHP scripting block can be placed anywhere inthe document.On servers with shorthand support enabled you can start a scripting block with <? and end with ?>.However, for maximum compatibility, we recommend that you use the standard form (<?php) rather than theshorthand form.
<?php?>
A PHP file normally contains HTML tags, just like an HTML file, and some PHP scripting code.
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Below, we have an example of a simple PHP script which sends the text "Hello World" to the browser:
<html><body><?phpecho "Hello World";?></body></html>
Each code line in PHP must end with a semicolon. The semicolon is a separator and is used to distinguish one set of instructions from another.There are two basic statements to output text with PHP:
echo
and
print
. In the example above we have used theecho statement to output the text "Hello World".
Comments in PHP
In PHP, we use // to make a single-line comment or /* and */ to make a large comment block.
<html><body><?php//This is a comment/*This isa commentblock*/?></body></html>
PHP Variables
Variables are used for storing values, such as numbers, strings or function results, so that they can be used manytimes in a script.
Variables in PHP
Variables are used for storing a values, like text strings, numbers or arrays.When a variable is set it can be used over and over again in your scriptAll variables in PHP start with a $ sign symbol.The correct way of setting a variable in PHP:
$var_name = value;
New PHP programmers often forget the $ sign at the beginning of the variable. In that case it will not work.Let's try creating a variable with a string, and a variable with a number:
<?php
Sections
« prev | next »- What You Should Already Know
- What is PHP?
- What is a PHP File?
- What is MySQL?
- PHP + MySQL
- Why PHP?
- Where to Start?
- What do You Need?
- Download PHP
- Download MySQL Database
- Download Apache Server
- PHP Variables
- Variables in PHP
- PHP is a Loosely Typed Language
- Variable Naming Rules
- Strings in PHP
- The Concatenation Operator
- Using the strlen() function
- Using the strpos() function
- Complete PHP String Reference
- PHP Operators
- Arithmetic Operators Operator Description Example Result
- Assignment Operators Operator Example Is The Same As
- Comparison Operators Operator Description Example
- Logical Operators Operator Description Example
- Conditional Statements
- The If...Else Statement
- The ElseIf Statement
- The Switch Statement
- What is an array?
- Numeric Arrays
- Associative Arrays
- Multidimensional Arrays
- Looping
- The for Statement
- The foreach Statement
- Create a PHP Function
- Use a PHP Function
- PHP Functions - Adding parameters
- PHP Functions - Return values
- PHP Form Handling
- Form Validation
- The $_GET Variable
- The $_REQUEST Variable
- The $_POST Variable
- Why use $_POST?
- The PHP Date() Function
- PHP Date - Format the Date
- PHP Date - Adding a Timestamp
- PHP Date - Reference
- Server Side Includes
- The include() Function
- The require() Function
- PHP File Handling
- Opening a File
- Closing a File
- Check End-of-file
- Reading a File Line by Line
- Reading a File Character by Character
- PHP Filesystem Reference
- PHP File Upload
- Create an Upload-File Form
- Create The Upload Script
- Restrictions on Upload
- Saving the Uploaded File
- PHP Cookies
- What is a Cookie?
- How to Create a Cookie?
- How to Retrieve a Cookie Value?
- How to Delete a Cookie?
- What if a Browser Does NOT Support Cookies?
- PHP Session Variables
- Starting a PHP Session
- Storing a Session Variable
- Destroying a Session
- The PHP mail() Function
- PHP Simple E-Mail
- PHP Mail Form
- PHP Mail Reference
- PHP E-mail Injections
- PHP Stopping E-mail Injections
- Basic Error Handling: Using the die() function
- Creating a Custom Error Handler
- Error Report levels
- ValueConstant Description
- Set Error Handler
- Trigger an Error
- Error Logging
- Send an Error Message by E-Mail
- What is an Exception
- Basic Use of Exceptions
- Try, throw and catch
- Example explained:
- Creating a Custom Exception Class
- Multiple Exceptions
- Re-throwing Exceptions
- Set a Top Level Exception Handler
- Rules for exceptions
- What is a PHP Filter?
- Why use a Filter?
- You should always filter all external data!
- Functions and Filters
- Validating and Sanitizing
- Options and Flags
- Validate Input
- Example Explained
- Sanitize Input
- Filter Multiple Inputs
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