An Introduction to PHP

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Php Getting Started With Variables :Next

An Introduction to PHP

1. What is PHP and Why do I need it?

PHP is the most popular scripting language on the web. PHP is used to create dynamic pages.

PHP is known as a server-sided language. The html of a page is not generated on your computer but you request it and it comes from the server after executing the request. The results of the requested page are then displayed in your browser.

PHP stands for "Hypertext Pre-processor". Later it was named as 'Personal Home Page'.

2. What you need to get started

You must have:

Apache Web Server or Windows IIS
PHP Installer 4.43 (Download from: http://www.php.net/downloads.php)
MySql Installer (Download from: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/)
Any Text Editor (Macromedia DreamWeaver,Notepad)

3. Installing and testing PHP and MySql

Click on the installers to install the PHP and Mysql and follow the installer instructions to complete the setup. Once you done open your editor and write

<?

echo "Tutorial from VisualBuilder";

?>

Save the file by pressing (Ctrl+s) with extension "test.php" and save in "C:Inetpubwwwroottest.php" in WINDOWS IIS or "C:apachehttpdocstest.php" in Tom Cat Apache Server

Point your browser to "http://localhost/test.php" you will see "Tutorial from VisualBuilder",if this does not come up then check your installation of PHP or see do you save the file under the directory as listed above.