Beginner's Guide to PHP

Published on August 14, 2025

PHP is a server-side scripting language used to build dynamic websites and web applications. Unlike HTML, CSS, or JavaScript, PHP runs on the server, which means it generates content that is sent to your browser.

Why Learn PHP?

PHP powers millions of websites, including WordPress, Facebook, and Wikipedia. Learning PHP lets you create interactive, database-driven sites where content can change based on user input.

Basic PHP Syntax

PHP code is placed inside <?php ?> tags. Here’s the simplest example:

<?php
echo "Hello, world!";
?>

This code displays “Hello, world!” on the web page.

Variables in PHP

Variables in PHP start with the $ symbol and store data:

$name = "John";
$age = 25;
echo "My name is $name and I am $age years old.";

Basic PHP Functions

Functions allow you to reuse code. For example:

function greet($name) {
    return "Hello, $name!";
}
echo greet("Alice");

Working with Forms

PHP can handle user input from HTML forms. Example:

<form method="post">
    Name: <input type="text" name="username">
    <input type="submit" value="Submit">
</form>

<?php
if(isset($_POST['username'])) {
    echo "Hello, " . $_POST['username'];
}
?>

Next Steps

After learning the basics, you can explore databases with MySQL, build CRUD applications, and dive into frameworks like Laravel or Symfony. PHP is a powerful tool for creating dynamic, interactive websites.