PHP: The Most Popular Server Side Scripting Language

In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, where new frameworks and languages emerge like spring flowers, one player remains a constant force: PHP. From powering some of the internet's biggest giants to serving as the foundation for countless small businesses and personal projects, PHP's popularity remains undeniable. We feel it’s important that every web developer should have a full understanding of the PHP, it’s core functions, classes, and methods. Through this article, we will help you to know what actually PHP is and how this scripting language operates out there.

What is PHP?

PHP, originally an acronym for "Personal Home Page", has transformed into the Hypertext Preprocessor, is a powerful server-side scripting language and interpreter that is freely available and used primarily on Linux Web servers. PHP executes on the server, while a comparable alternative, JavaScript, executes on the client. PHP is an alternative to Microsoft's Active Server Page (ASP) technology. As with ASP, the PHP script is embedded within a Web page along with its HTML. PHP can be integrated with the number of popular databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Sybase, Informix, and Microsoft SQL Server.

The Birth and Evolution of PHP

Created by Rasmus Lerdorf in the mid-1990s, PHP was initially conceived as a set of tools to track visits to his online resume. As the web's demands grew, PHP evolved into a scripting language capable of interacting with databases, generating dynamic content, and handling forms, marking the birth of server-side scripting.

Why Should You Use PHP?

With faster turn-around time, enhanced security and affordability, PHP have become the preferred choice of the web developers. It's one of the most admired and popular server-side scripting languages which are widely used for creating websites. Today's most famous online businesses such as Facebook, Yahoo, Wikipedia, Flickr etc. use PHP scripting language.

1. PHP is The Easiest Language for Startup

PHP is simple to learn compared to other languages like Java or .Net. It's so easy that anyone can learn PHP coding. You just need proper training and practice and you can master this language in no time. One of the reasons it is always recommended to master PHP is that it is easier to use.

2. It's Free

PHP is an open source language - FREE and has a stupendous amount of available documentation, which makes it the most cost-effective method of creating robust websites and taking over online real estate space without worrying about legal obligations and subscriptions fees. Furthermore, PHP reduces barriers to entry for new website developers, allowing them to simply leverage their skills and talents for coding to get started.

3. Community Support and Documentation

If you are stuck with anything related to PHP, though, that would be a very rare instance, then you can find your solution through the great community support of PHP. You can also observe that this kind of fast service is rarely seen in the other languages like Ruby or Java. Head over to PHP Manual and you will be amazed by the excellent documentation.

4. Works Beautifully with CMS

PHP makes websites amoebic, allowing the developers to transform them at their will. All PHP websites are fully customizable and can be transformed to meet the requirements of the customers with ease because Content Management Systems like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla and others are primarily based on PHP. Hence, developing or integrating a robust custom-made CMS solution with your website is simple.

5. Most Securable platform

One of the complaints against PHP is that it's less secure, but the users experienced says differently. PHP also gives all the tools to make your application secure but you have to know to implement them. Actually, security depends upon the programmer,  not on the language.

6. Extensions and Add-Ons

PHP is one of the most scalable languages for website development. Because of open source, its online developers' community has always involved developing an extension to meet the emerging requirements of the businesses. Allows the developers and businesses to easily develop and add new functionalities and features to their website with the flexible way.

7. Embed The Ability

The latest trend in adaptive content has made a responsive website and fluid grid systems even more pertinent to businesses. In this context, HTML5 is the unquestioned industry standard for developing highly dynamic and responsive websites. And PHP surfaces as the language allows its code to easily embedded into the HTML. Without any problem, developers can also convert existing static website code into a whole new dynamic one by adding their PHP code into HTML.

8. Huge Standard Library

Libraries play a crucial role in simplifying and speeding the data processing ability of the language. In this fast world, visitors don't want to give more time for per web page while they are surfing spree the site. In this situation, website's loading time plays a crucial role in keeping the visitors engaged on the website. PHP offers extensive support for HTTP fetching, regular expressions, URL parsing, and database drivers, to name but a few.

9. Delivers Better Performance

PHP improves in development speed as much as it improves the speed of execution. Operating on a conventional web stack, PHP leverages the Apache web server and allows applications to leverage MySQL databases means allowing developers to create bespoke, one-stop solutions for online presence. PHP also is known for its quick turnaround time which is one of the most important factors that enhance the performance of any website. The large standard library, a diverse range of extensions, cross-platform functionality, seamless integration with and customization of various CMS, and embed-ability allows experienced developers to offer exceptionally fast turnaround times at highly competitive rates. Any websites that are developed by using PHP, perform faster data processing features and compatible with all operating system such as Windows, UNIX and so forth.

10. Offers Diverse Frameworks

We already say in the above, PHP is able to deliver fast turnaround times. Because it has a sufficiently large family of PHP-frameworks, these range from the enterprise level Zend and Yii frameworks, all-rounder Laravel and Sympfony, performance optimizers like Phalcon, and PHPixie for speedy application designs or Codeigniter for more robust ones.

Why PHP is Popular

1. Web Development Prowess

PHP excels in web development, offering powerful tools and frameworks like Laravel and Symfony. Its ability to embed directly into HTML simplifies the creation of dynamic web pages.

2. WordPress Powerhouse

PHP is the backbone of WordPress, one of the most popular content management systems globally. The prevalence of WordPress websites contributes significantly to PHP's ubiquity.

3. Server-Side Scripting

PHP's server-side scripting capabilities enable developers to execute code on the server before sending it to the client. This process is vital for generating dynamic content and executing complex operations.

4. Compatibility and Integration

PHP seamlessly integrates with various databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. Its compatibility with different systems and databases makes it a versatile choice for developers.

5. Cost-Effective Development

Being open-source, PHP reduces development costs. Businesses can leverage PHP for robust web solutions without incurring licensing fees, making it an economical choice for startups and enterprises alike.

The Future of PHP

With constant evolution and adaptation, PHP refuses to rest on its laurels. Frameworks like Laravel and Symfony push the boundaries of web development, while initiatives like PHP 8 focus on performance improvements and modern language features. This commitment to staying that PHP remains a powerful and viable option for years to come.

Is PHP Right for You?

If you're looking for a versatile, beginner-friendly, and feature-rich language to embark on your web development journey, PHP is an excellent choice. Its vast community, open-source nature, and ever-evolving ecosystem make it a language with staying power. So, don't be intimidated by its veteran status; PHP is still a dynamic force, ready to empower you to build the web of tomorrow.

Conclusion

PHP's journey from a personal project to a web scripting giant showcases its adaptability and enduring relevance. Its role in web development, particularly in conjunction with frameworks like Laravel, remains pivotal. As long as the web demands dynamic, interactive, and robust solutions, PHP will continue to be a scripting language of choice for developers worldwide. To help you to learn PHP and improve your skill we enlist best online resources in our previous post. Please fill free to check them all. Thank you!