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PHP and MySQL

Table of content

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a programming language widely used to create dynamic web pages. It can be embedded into HTML and is often used with a database to store and retrieve data. PHP is a server-side language executed on the server rather than in the user's web browser. This allows PHP to perform tasks such as reading and writing to files, generating dynamic web content, and interacting with databases. One of the key advantages of PHP is its popularity and the extensive support it enjoys. PHP code is written in plain text and is typically saved with a .php file extension. 

PHP editorThere are many text editors you can use to write PHP code. Some popular options include Notepad++, a free, open-source text editor popular among PHP developers. Sublime Text: A paid text editor widely used by developers due to its features and customisation options.Visual Studio Code: A free, open-source text editor developed by Microsoft that is popular among developers due to its powerful features and extensions.Atom: A free, open-source text editor developed by GitHub that is popular among developers due to its customisable interface and features.Eclipse: A free, open-source text editor popular among developers due to its powerful features and integration with various programming languages.PhpStorm: PHPStorm is popular among PHP developers due to its powerful features and user-friendly interface. However, it is a paid tool, so you must purchase a license.

Basic Features:

  • Server-side Scripting: Most commonly used for creating dynamic web pages.
  • Database Integration: Can connect to multiple databases, most notably MySQL, SQLite, and PostgreSQL.
  • Sessions and Cookies: Native support for creating and managing sessions and cookies.
  • File Handling: Can read and write files on the server.
  • Object-Oriented Programming: Supports OOP features like classes, inheritance, and interfaces.

Web Development Frameworks

PHP has several frameworks that make it easier to develop web applications. Some of the popular PHP frameworks are:

  • Laravel
  • Symfony
  • Zend Framework
  • CodeIgniter
  • Yii 2

Getting Started

To start with PHP, you typically set up a web server environment like Apache or Nginx and install PHP. Another easy way is to use pre-packaged solutions like XAMPP or WAMP for Windows or LAMP for Linux, which include Apache, MySQL, and PHP bundled together.