Key Points
- PHP full form originally stood for Personal Home Page, but now means PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
- Created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf, PHP has evolved into a popular server-side scripting language
- PHP’s server-side scripting allows for dynamic content, database interaction, and form processing
- The language is known for its ease of use, large community support, and wide range of frameworks
Want to make a fun and exciting website but don’t know which language to use? With PHP full form, you can create online platforms with dynamic elements, such as databases and forms. It’s great for e-commerce, social media, and more.
But what does PHP even mean, and how does it work? In this article, we break down the programming language and how to use it. We even provide a basic syntax to get you started. So let’s get developing with PHP!
What Is PHP Full Form?
You might have heard of PHP before, but you probably don’t know what it means. In fact, the acronym’s definition has changed over the years. Let’s take a look at its evolution.
In 1994, computer programmer Rasmus Lerdorf created the Personal Home Page, a dynamic way of showcasing the front end of a website. However, as the tool developed, its qualities spread to the entire website. Eventually, the PHP full form changed to Hypertext Preprocessor, representing the language’s server-side attributes.
Curiously, the acronym features recursion. This means that the PHP full form actually includes the acronym itself. Now used as a joke in the tech industry, the full meaning is PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor.
How Does PHP Work?
Since its development in the early 90s, PHP became one of the preferred methods for writing websites. Its ease of use, large community support, and wide range of frameworks make it simple to apply to online applications. Here’s how it works in programming.
The main aspect of PHP is its server-side scripting, which runs from the server rather than a browser. When the webpage is requested, the server actually reads the PHP full-form code and creates an HTML output.
Because the code is saved on the server, it’s easier to store. This allows PHP to handle dynamic content, interact with databases, and even process forms. The result is a more personalized and engaging website experience.
In the below example, we’ll show how to use PHP to interact with HTML using the echo statement. The syntax will help you understand how to write the tag as well as its basic functionality. Here’s what it looks like.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>PHP Example</title>
</head>
<body>
<?php
// PHP code starts with <?php and ends with ?>
// Variables
$name = "John";
$age = 25;
// Echoing variables and performing calculations
echo "<h1>Welcome, " . $name . "!</h1>";
echo "<p>You are " . $age . " years old.</p>";
$birthYear = date("Y") - $age;
echo "<p>Your birth year is " . $birthYear . ".</p>";
// Conditional statement
if ($age >= 18) {
echo "<p>You are eligible to vote.</p>";
} else {
echo "<p>You are not eligible to vote.</p>";
}
?>
</body>
</html>
Summary Table
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| PHP Full Form | PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor |
| Original Meaning | Personal Home Page |
| Created by | Rasmus Lerdorf |
| Year of Creation | 1994 |
| Main Function | Server-side scripting |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Casimiro PT/Shutterstock.com.
