A Detailed Guide on PHP Web Development

Creating dynamic web apps and delivering engaging user experiences was once a dream but it became a reality with the launch of PHP. This programming language empowers Facebook, the topmost social media network. According to w3techs PHP is also at the core of more than 80% of websites on the internet. That says a lot about PHP web development capabilities. 

Businesses opt to hire PHP development companies to build high-end solutions and gain a competitive edge in the market. PHP isn’t just a traditional scripting language. It continuously adapts to the latest technologies and keeps on evolving. 

No web solution can ever be perfected without using PHP. Read this article to learn how to use PHP for web development. 

1. About PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language designed to create dynamic web pages. Its robust functionality allows developers to embed PHP directly into HTML code to generate dynamic content. PHP can perform tasks that include seamless communication with the server, allowing it to process and execute code on the server. The output is displayed on the client browser. 

It also offers seamless integration with various databases. PHP programming language is simple and flexible, making it easy to learn. Its compatibility does serve as one of the main reasons behind its widespread use in web development. 

2. Why Use PHP?

Let us identify the reasons why using PHP for your project is considered beneficial. 

2.1 Open-Source 

Being open-source is the biggest advantage for any programming language or web development technology. It allows users to download, use, and modify PHP source code for free. There aren’t any licensing costs either. 

Being open-source means there isn’t any vendor control over the programming language. Instead, it’s the community that drives the growth. And open-source languages always garner support from a large community. Due to this, they also have an extensive ecosystem. 

2.2 Seamless Database Integration 

PHP offers built-in modules that provide functions and extensions to integrate with different database management systems. PHP developers can use them to easily connect with various databases, execute SQL queries, and fetch and manipulate data. 

Such a capability to work with multiple databases at once helps PHP developers build data-driven applications. With seamless data management, PHP can be used to create dynamic web pages and other reliable tech solutions. 

2.3 Wide Community Support

PHP has a well-established and massive ecosystem, offering a wide range of tools, libraries, and plugins  This is largely because it has huge community support in the first place. 

A supportive PHP community always strives for the growth of the language. They repeatedly contribute to improving and updating PHP so it can stay relevant to the latest trends and fulfill the modern requirements of businesses. 

2.4 Cost Effective

As an open-source programming language, you can use PHP for free. So, you do not have to purchase any costly software or licenses to use it. Moreover, it also provides integration with various databases. 

Due to all of these, you can easily create a fully functional web application using PHP at minimal cost. This is very helpful when you are working on a project with a small budget. 

3. Examples of Websites Using PHP

PHP is a foundational technology for many popular platforms. Its ease of use, flexibility, and great integration capabilities are the reasons why web developers prefer to use it. Here, we will talk about the companies using PHP. 

3.1 Facebook (Meta)

Everyone knows Facebook. With over 3 billion active users, it is one of the biggest social media platforms. Now known as Meta, Facebook has been using the dynamic content generation capabilities of PHP since its release in 2004. 

Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz initially wrote the core app code for Facebook with PHP. Facebook launched a transpiler named HipHop for PHP in 2010, which was used to convert the PHP code into C++ and then compile it into binary for effective implementation. 

Facebook replaced this transpiler in 2013 with the HipHop Virtual Machine (HHVM), designed specifically to improve app performance and simplify the development process. From that day onwards, HHVM is a popular standard for building and deploying PHP applications.

3.2 WordPress

WordPress, a popular content management system, uses PHP as its primary programming language, leveraging its flexibility and ability to manage dynamic content. PHP’s database integration capabilities allow WordPress to retrieve data from various databases and then turn them into an HTML web page. 

WordPress enables users to easily build a website or blog for free because it has PHP at its core. This CMS platform also allows users to extend the web functionalities or add new features.

WordPress offers an extensive plugin architecture. Users can also create custom themes for their websites in WordPress. This versatility is also incorporated from PHP. 

3.3 Wikipedia

PHP has been used for backend development in Wikipedia, probably the largest online encyclopedia and one of the most visited websites on the internet. The site’s faster loading speed and its ability to process complex queries and handle large amounts of data come from PHP. Wikipedia adopted the HHVM in 2014 to improve its web performance. From then, their site became twice as fast, providing enhanced user experience to its readers. 

3.4 Spotify

Spotify has become a global leader in music streaming by transforming how we discover, access, and share music. It manages a large scale of functionalities and is known for its innovative tech stack. Although PHP’s role in this ecosystem is less direct, it is not insignificant. 

Spotify uses other technologies for its primary requirements of streaming and data management. However, PHP plays a pivotal role in dynamic content delivery and user interaction on web platforms, helping Spotify be a robust and scalable platform.

For seamless user experience and to handle large-scale apps, Spotify adopted microservices architecture. Here, PHP’s compatibility with various databases comes in handy, as every service needs an independent connection with a database. Laravel, CodeIgniter, and other PHP frameworks also help improve the platform’s performance and security. 

4. Getting Started with PHP 

To get started with PHP, there are a few essentials: a code editor to write the PHP code and a development environment to run that code. 

• Whatever platform you prefer, download the latest XAMPP for it 
• Pick any PHP code editor of your choice. Here, we prefer to use Sublime Text 3. 
• When you install the XAMPP Apache web server, it brings along a MySQL database. Now, you can simulate a web server from your Mac or PC. 

4.1 Installing PHP 

To use PHP, first of all, you will need a web host that supports PHP and MySQL. So, install a web server like Apache on your PC. you can directly download XAMPP from Apache Friends. 

Installing Apache, PHP, MySQL, and PHPMyAdmin

XAMPP needs to be installed first if you want to start PHP, MySQL, PHPMyAdmin, and Apache on the first try. Go to XAMPP for Windows and start downloading. 

Once the browser downloads the .exe file, click on it to start the installation process. 

Now, select the components you want to install and then click on the “Next” button.

A lot of components are available, but as a beginner, you don’t need all of them. Just install the Apache to handle client responses. Install MySQL for data storage and view. The next thing you will need is the PhpMyAdmin, an admin panel for your database. Then, for monitoring purposes, you have to install an app called Webalizer.  

Now, select the location where you want to install XAMPP and then click on “Next”.

To proceed further with the installation process, keep punching the “Next” button on the screens that successively appear until the final screen.

In the final screen for completing the setup process for XAMPP, make sure you check the box for the question asking you whether you want to start the control panel now. Now, click on the “Finish” button to complete the installation. Wait for the new window to open.

As the XAMPP control panel starts, its window will be opened on your screen. Click on the “Start” buttons given in the actions column or in the row of Apache and MySQL to get started. 

Now, you are ready for PHP coding. All you need is a code editor to write your code in. Install the Code editor of your choice and start writing your code in it. For example: 

<?php
echo “ Hello World”;
?>

Now, save this code as test.php in the htdocs folder. 

Open your browser and type localhost in its address bar. An index file will be opened where if you type localhost/test.php, then it will open the saved file/page with your PHP code. 

5. Examples of Basic PHP Code in Web Development

Let’s simplify the PHP web development process by offering a multitude of functionalities, such as 

5.1 Variables

Variables are containers holding different kinds of necessary data, including objects, strings, and numbers. A ‘$’ sign is used in PHP to indicate the start of the variable name. Let’s take an example to understand variables.

<?php
$a = 5;
$b = 2;
$c = 8;
echo $a*$b*$c;
?>

5.2 Loops

As the name suggests, Loops helps you repeat a specific section of code multiple times in the same codebase. In PHP, you can use the Loops in the following way:

<?php
for($i=1; $i<=5; $i++){
    echo "Multiply " .$i. " by 2 ==> ". $i*2; 
    echo "<br/>";
}
?>

5.3 Arrays

Arrays are also data containers in PHP, but the only difference is that they store multiple pieces of the same type of data. Arrays save all the values under a single variable. They play a vital role in efficient data management. Let’s understand how arrays work in PHP by taking an example. 

<?php
$cars = array("Skoda", "Maruti", "Toyota", "Mahindra");
foreach ($cars as $car) {
  echo "$car <br>";
}
?>

6. Examples of Advanced PHP Code in Web Development

Any programming language can offer basic functionalities, PHP is popular because it also offers various advanced functionalities, including 

6.1 Database Interaction

PHP’s exceptional database integration capabilities allow you to interact with various databases to execute queries for retrieving, managing, and processing data. PHP simplifies the management of data-driven aspects of web apps and ensures efficient data retrieval and manipulation. Such a functionality is also helpful in empowering different features of your web apps. 

<?php
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "username";
$password = "password";
$dbname = "database_name";
// Create connection
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);
// Check connection
if ($conn->connect_error) {
  die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);
}
?>

Interacting with different databases is often a primary requirement for many web applications. Using PHP for this will help smooth things out. 

6.2 Displaying Dynamic Content

A PHP developer can fetch and exhibit database-sourced content in real-time on web pages. This concept, known as dynamic content display, is a unique benefit of using PHP code to build web solutions. This allows your website to display the latest and relevant information to the users. This PHP functionality helps create dynamic and interactive web pages.

<?php
$sql = "SELECT id, username, email  FROM users";
$result = $conn->query($sql);
if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
  // output data of each row
  while($row = $result->fetch_assoc()) {
    echo "id: " . $row["id"]. " - User Name: " . $row["username"]. " " . $row["email"]. "<br>";
  }
} else {
  echo "User not found";
}
?>

6.3 User Authentication and Session Management

PHP also takes care of the security of your web applications. It offers built-in user authentication and session management modules. So, when you implement a PHP script, it guarantees secure access by authenticating user credentials. PHP also handles user sessions across various web pages to provide a personalized experience. In short, PHP promotes the implementation of security best practices to offer controlled access and tailored experiences within their applications.

<?php
// Start session
session_start(); 
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    $user = $_POST['username'];
    $pass = $_POST['password'];
    // Query to get the user from the database
    $sql = "SELECT id, username, password FROM users WHERE username = '$user'";
    // Execute query
    $result = $conn->query($sql);
    if ($result->num_rows > 0) {
        $row = $result->fetch_assoc();
        $stored_hash = $row['password']; // The hashed password from the database
        // Verify the entered password against the hashed password
        if (password_verify($pass, $stored_hash)) {
            $_SESSION['user_id'] = $row['id'];
            $_SESSION['username'] = $row['username'];
            echo "Login successful! Welcome " . $_SESSION['username'];
            header("Location: dashboard.php"); // Redirect to specifiic page
            exit;
        } else {
            echo "Invalid password!";
        }
    } else {
        echo "No user found with that username!";
    }
    $conn->close();
}
?>

7. Best IDEs For PHP Development

After going through PHP development and a number of its functionalities, it’s time to take a look at the list of top PHP IDEs and code editors that can help you deliver quality outcomes. 

7.1 Visual Studio Code

Microsoft created an open-source code editor called the Visual Studio Code (VSC). It is a lightweight IDE with an extensive ecosystem, providing everything you need to build PHP solutions. Additionally, Visual Studio Code comes with built-in features and supports numerous extensions, allowing users to go out of the box. 

VSC helps a PHP developer with tasks like version control, debugging, and more to speed up the code-build-debug cycle. For that, it offers a smart tool called IntelliSense. To provide smart suggestions for code completion, IntelliSense considers imported modules, function definitions, and types of variables.

VSC also allows PHP developers to debug their code directly from the editor. This PHP text editor is compatible with multiple operating systems and requires minimal storage space. It also allows you to customize the themes and functionalities. 

7.2 NetBeans

NetBeans is a robust IDE providing development support for various programming languages, including Java and PHP. It comes with an extensive set of features such as syntax highlighting, customizable themes, an intuitive user interface, and more.

NetBeans offers more than a thousand plugins, a significant contribution from its large and active community. So, you don’t have to worry about development challenges either. NetBeans is compatible with various operating systems and can help build apps for all kinds of platforms. 

Identifying and resolving errors in PHP applications is easy with this IDE. By seamlessly integrating with popular version control systems like Git and SVN, NetBeans provides a collaborative environment and ensures efficient version management. 

7.3 Atom

Atom, often referred to as “the hackable text editor of the 21st century”, was initially developed as an internal tool for GitHub. The company later made it free for all and still continues to support it. Don’t get confused with the term hackable. It refers to the fact that a user can modify every aspect of this code editor from a language-specific setting to syntax themes and key bindings, to fit their requirements. 

Interestingly, Atom itself offers around 9,000 packages to extend its capabilities. This extensive library allows you to easily set it up as a PHP editor by installing tailored packages for linting, annotations, refactoring, and debugging in the PHP programming language. 

Atom offers advanced features for modifying UIs, smart autocomplete for syntax highlight, robust search and replace functions, real-time collaboration and sync between GitHub and Git, and so on. 

7.4 PhpStorm

PHPStorm is one of the most popular PHP IDEs that offer features such as code refactoring, auto-completion, and prevention of sudden errors. Its functionalities can also be easily extended to CSS, JavaScript, and HTML. Novice programmers can easily learn and get started with PHPStorm as it facilitates a simple user interface. 

The best thing about this code editor is that it allows you to edit databases, execute queries, and modify and analyze schemas based on UML diagrams. Its code assistance capabilities also help you manage SQL queries. PHPStorm is compatible with Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its entry-level prices start from $11. 

7.5 Sublime Text

Sublime Text is a feature-rich source code editor compatible across multiple platforms. Popular for its fast and clean interface, Sublime Text is a lightweight platform that can be easily ported from one system to another using flash drives.

Although you need a license to use this software, you don’t have to pay for it since it’s open-source. Sublime Text is highly flexible in terms that you can extend its functionalities using various plugins available in Sublime Text’s package manager. 

It also offers many plugins for PHP development. If necessary, you can also create a custom plugin and add it to the platform. Sublime Text is compatible with primary operating systems, such as Windows and macOS. 

8. Conclusion

There is no doubt that this programming language offers exceptional capabilities for building dynamic and interactive web applications that deliver enhanced user experience. It is also helpful in automation testing. 

PHP is an open-source programming language. So, it’s got support from a large community and has an extensive ecosystem. The list of PHP advantages can just go on and on. PHP may be a language from the past, but its capabilities still rival the strength of modern ones. The reason behind it is simple, PHP continues to adapt and evolve and hence, it will always be useful for creating high-quality web solutions. 

FAQs

Is PHP still good for web development?

PHP is still a good option for web development. You can use it to build a strong foundation for backend programming. Although PHP is helpful in managing servers, you can always learn other relevant technologies to stay on top of the trends in the web development space. 

What does PHP stand for?

Initially, PHP was a short form for Personal Home Page. But now, it’s used as an acronym for Hypertext PreProcessor. PHP is an open-source server-side scripting language that enables programmers to create dynamic web pages. 

Why is PHP so powerful?

The secret of the PHP’s power lies in its versatility. It offers a wide range of functionalities for data processing and management, form validation, session management, and more. PHP also provides seamless integration with a variety of databases, such as SQLite, MySQL, and MongoDB. You can also embed PHP code in HTML to easily mix static and dynamic content.