The PHP is an open source, server-side scripting language with built-in HTML programming used to create dynamic web pages. The advantages of PHP are its flexibility and its high compatibility with other databases. At the same time, PHP is considered an easy language to learn.
PHP functions
PHP functions relate to server-side scripts. PHP can perform any task that any CGI (Common Gateway Interface) program can do and handles the exchange of data between the server and the software. In this way, PHP can collect data or create dynamic content websites.
Three main functions distinguish PHP in particular:
- Server-side programming- This requires three components, which are a PHP parser, a web browser, and a web server. The latter is connected with a PHP installation. The web browser is used to access the PHP program. The browser displays web pages that are stored on the server and caused with PHP. Server-side scheduling is ideal for testing websites before publishing to the web.
- Command line programming: PHP scripts can be created without a browser or server. For this case, you will only need a PHP parser. These scripts are suitable for regular tasks carried out on a website.
- Write desktop apps- This feature is not used as often as web page programming. However, PHP is suitable for the development of desktop apps due to its complexity, which can also be used through different platforms.
Example of a PHP script embedded in an HTML document:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C/DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html> <head> <title>Page with PHP script </title> </head> <body> <?php echo "This is a PHP script"; ?> </body> </html>
PHP benefits
The PHP scripting language can be used with all popular operating systems. At the same time, PHP is compatible with most web servers like Apache. The benefits for the user are:
- PHP can be used with any virtual operating system and any type of server.
- Apps can be programmed focused on the process or the project.
- HTML, images, PDFs, or flash files can be dynamically generated with PHP.
- PHP supports a large number of different databases, so this scripting language is ideal for creating database-based websites.
- PHP offers full support for server communication with other protocols.
One small downside when programming with PHP is that it generates URLs that are usually cryptic to users and provide fewer keywords for search engines. But with a simple mod_rewrite the URLs generated in PHP can be converted to SEF URLs (Search Engine Friendly URLs).
www.samplewebsite.com/index.php?id=fotos&foto=12456
becomes, for example
www. samplewebsite.com /vacation-at-the-Grand-Canyon.html
SEO benefits
PHP allows webmasters to deliver content without placing it directly in the source code since the content is parsed by a PHP script. Unlike JavaScript, the code runs on the server and is subsequently delivered to the client. From this dynamic, content can be deliberately hidden from crawlers. Consequently, the forms of the contests or surveys on customer satisfaction can be displayed without prejudice or diminish the content and its optimization in any way.
Just addition it is possible to review all HTML items by means of PHP. In that case, the original data would be completely hidden. This method would only be beneficial if the content was not used for indexing.