Tech Time: PHP

What is PHP?

PHP, which is a recursive acronym for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, is a widely used scripting language that can be embedded into HTML. Its use allows a developer to create dynamic web pages that can manipulate files and directories, interact with databases, respond to user input, and much more. Syntactically, it is similar to other high level programming languages such as C and C++; so, for someone with programming experience, learning the basics will be quite easy.

Suggested Competencies

HTML Experience

Though PHP can be used independently of HTML, this session will focus on using them in conjunction. Thus, it is important to have a basic understanding of HTML before proceeding.

Basic Programming Skills

The more experience you have with other high level programming languages, the easier learning PHP will be. However, the information provided in this session will be quite basic, so someone with no programming experience should still be able to follow along quite easily.

Technical Requirements

In order to complete this session, participants need FTP access to a web server with PHP 4.x.x or greater installed. This will allow for testing any scripts that are created during the demonstration.

Fortunately, Pegasus provides everything participants will need. For information about accessing your Pegasus account, please visit the Help Desk website.

For those who operate their own servers, Instructions for installing PHP on various platforms can be found in this section of the PHP manual.

Resources Used to Develop this Presentation

As with most projects involving PHP, the vast amount of information and resources located at PHP.net were incredibly helpful.

The following book resources were also useful:

Julie C. Meloni. PHP fast & easy web development. Boston: Premier Press, 2002.