ASWP – What is PHP? A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Note: We used other sites, blogs, articles, and content to create this informational post. None of these posts are AltShift WP’s own opinion or viewpoint. There is no intention here to infringe on copyrights or plagiarize any work. We even cite the source of our content. If there is content here that should be taken down due to copyright, please let us know at chatwithus@altshiftwp.com and we’ll take it down immediately. 

What is PHP? History, features, and benefits

PHP, a server-side scripting language, is the backbone of the internet, powering websites, content management systems, and numerous online applications. Originally created by Rasmus Lerdorf in the mid-1990s as ‘Personal Home Page’, PHP now stands for ‘Hypertext Preprocessor’.

PHP Features

PHP is an open-source language, meaning it’s free to use, download, and modify. It’s maintained by a global community of volunteers and supported by The PHP Foundation. The language is server-side, executing on the server before being sent to the user’s browser as HTML. This makes PHP ideal for creating dynamic web content, where the content can change based on user interactions or database information.

Benefits of PHP

PHP’s widespread use is due to several benefits, including:

* **Beginner-Friendly:** PHP’s intuitive syntax makes it easy for beginners to learn.
* **Large Community:** A vast and active community of developers provides ample resources and support.
* **Cross-Platform Compatibility:** PHP runs on popular operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Unix, and works with various web servers.
* **Database Connectivity:** It works with various database formats, allowing for efficient data management.
* **Cost-Effective:** Being open source, PHP eliminates licensing fees, making it cost-effective for web development projects.
* **Scalability:** PHP can handle heavy traffic loads and can be optimized for performance through caching techniques.

How PHP works: Creating Dynamic Web Content

PHP seamlessly integrates with various web technologies, such as HTML, HTTP, POP3, and IMAP. It’s often used within HTML files, with PHP code marked by opening and closing brackets (“). This allows PHP to create dynamic content on static web pages. For example, PHP can pull data directly from databases, making it excellent for templating, creating fixed layouts with varying content.

PHP and WordPress: The CMS’ heart and soul

WordPress relies heavily on PHP, enabling its functionality for creating, editing, and deleting pages, posts, media, and other content. Most WordPress files end in `.php`. Installing WordPress requires PHP to be present on the server. While JavaScript has become increasingly important in the WordPress ecosystem, particularly with the adoption of the Gutenberg editor, PHP remains the core language.

Powering themes and plugins

PHP is essential for WordPress themes, especially page template files. The template hierarchy in WordPress utilizes PHP files for various pages and theme components. This allows for creating a single layout and dynamically displaying content from the database. Plugins, collections of PHP files, extend WordPress’s functionality, adding features and capabilities.

Without PHP, there would be no WordPress

PHP’s flexibility and power make it ideal for WordPress’s content management capabilities. It allows for efficient database management, user authentication, session management, and more, enabling the core functionality of the popular website builder. Learning PHP can significantly enhance your WordPress development skills, enabling you to customize and extend its functionality.

PHP in everyday life: You rely on it more often than you think

PHP powers many well-known websites, including Facebook, Wikipedia, Tumblr, and Slack. It’s used for various online processes, including user authentication, session management, and email handling. It’s a crucial component of the internet’s infrastructure, often powering the applications and websites we use daily.

Other abilities of PHP

PHP’s capabilities extend beyond HTML markup. It can process form data, validate input, and generate dynamic responses. PHP also handles user authentication and session management, enabling features like user login, logout, and preference storage. It also allows for file manipulation, email handling, and interaction with external APIs and web services, making it a versatile and powerful language.

What is PHP? It is the web’s backbone

PHP is often overlooked, but it plays a critical role in our online experience. Its open-source nature, powerful features, and widespread use make it a go-to language for web development projects. If you want to delve deeper into the technical aspects of WordPress and web development, learning some PHP skills is an excellent starting point.

This is a summary of the original article: [article URL]

Hey there… We’re AltShift WP! We’re a Web Services Company!

AltShift WP understands the struggle of juggling a business with a website that needs attention. We’re a passionate team of web designers and developers who are obsessed with creating beautiful, user-friendly websites that help businesses thrive online. We know a well-designed website is more than just aesthetics – it’s a powerful tool to attract new customers, convert leads, and ultimately boost your sales.

But here’s what truly sets us apart: we believe in total alignment. We see your company, branding, products, and services through your eyes. This lets us craft a website that tells your unique story online and connects with the perfect customers you’re looking for. We speak your language – we get the challenges you face and the goals you’re striving for. Let us take the website burden off your shoulders so you can focus on what you do best – running your amazing business.

If you think we sound like the team you want to work with… Get Started With Us!

Click on the “Click to Schedule” Button Now OR Give Us a Call at (419) 930-9944.

Why You’re Going To Love Working With Us

Online Experience Built Just For You

We are online experience experts. Your clients will be amazed in how easy your website is to navigate and to reach out to you. 

Customized and Optimized For Your Business

A website is more than an online billboard, it’s your online store, customer engagement system, and more. We can build and integrate your buisness systems into your website. 

Made For You

Anyone can throw words and pictures on a site and call it done. We do what other companies can’t and don’t. We align ourselves with you, your brand, your company, and your culture so we can tell your story to your customers.

AltShift WP Is Trusted By Companies Of All Sizes

What Our AWESOME Clients Have To Say

How It Works

Step 1: Click on the "Click to Schedule" Button

Click on the “Click to Schedule” Button and the scheduler will pop up. Choose a date and time, then answer some quick questions so we have some information upfront about you and your project.

Step 2: We Meet & Build You An Action Plan

All strategy calls end with us building an Action Plan. This plan is ABSOLUTELY FREE! We recap our conversation and what we think is a great plan of attack to tackle your project. This is highly custom to your project and is for you to keep. If you choose to work with us, this is how we will will proceed with your project.

Step 3: We're Aligned... Now Let's Get Started!

If we are aligned with your vision and goals and our action plan meets your needs, then the next step is to get started. We do all the heavy lifting. The great thing about working with us is that we’re insanely great at communicating and try to make the whole process boil down to you just having to make decisions.

If that sound like a plan to you and you want to Get Started With Us Today! Click on the “Click to Schedule” Button Now OR Give Us a Call at (419) 930-9944.