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👋 PHP Hello World Example – Step-by-Step for Beginners

🧲 Introduction – Why Start with “Hello World” in PHP?

Every journey in programming begins with a simple output: “Hello World”. This tradition helps new developers test their setup, understand syntax basics, and get their first output on the screen.

In PHP, printing your first line is quick and powerful—it sets the stage for dynamic web development with HTML and server-side scripting.

🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn:

How to write your first PHP script
Embedding PHP in HTML
How PHP is executed
Common mistakes to avoid for beginners

🧪 Basic Hello World Syntax

Here’s the simplest PHP program:

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

✅ Explanation:

<?php opens the PHP code block
echo is a language construct that prints the message
"Hello, World!" is a string
; ends the statement
?> is the optional closing tag for embedded PHP

💡 Best Practice: Omit the closing ?> tag in pure PHP files to prevent accidental whitespace or output errors.

🌐 PHP Embedded in HTML

A more realistic example involves using PHP inside an HTML file:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>PHP Hello World</title>
</head>
<body>

<h1>
<?php
echo "Hello, World!";
?>
</h1>

</body>
</html>

✅ Explanation:

HTML provides the structure
PHP is embedded in the <h1> tag
When the browser renders the page, it sees only the output: Hello, World!

⚙️ How PHP Code Executes

PHP runs on the server, not in the browser.
The web server (like Apache) sends the final HTML (with PHP output) to the client.
PHP must be run on a server like XAMPP, WAMP, or a live web server with PHP installed.

🧩 File Extension and Execution

Make sure to:

Save your PHP files with a .php extension
Place them inside the server directory (e.g., htdocs for XAMPP)
Access them via http://localhost/filename.php

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake	Description
❌ Missing `;`	Each PHP statement must end with a semicolon
❌ Wrong file extension	Use `.php` instead of `.html` for PHP scripts
❌ Not using a local server	Running PHP files directly in a browser (file path) won’t work
❌ Forgetting `echo`	PHP won’t output text unless you use `echo` or `print`

🔐 Best Practice Tip

If you’re outputting user-provided data, always escape HTML using:

echo htmlspecialchars($userInput);

✅ This prevents XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) vulnerabilities when rendering data.

📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps

The “Hello World” example introduces you to PHP’s syntax, structure, and how it interacts with HTML and the browser. It’s a small step with huge importance—it confirms that your server and PHP setup are ready to go.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

Use echo to display output in PHP
Wrap PHP code with <?php ... ?>
Save files with .php and serve them via a local server
PHP executes server-side and sends results to the browser
Avoid common syntax and configuration mistakes

⚙️ Real-World Relevance:
Every PHP project—whether it’s a CMS, e-commerce backend, or API—starts with basic syntax. “Hello World” validates your development environment and sets you up for success.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

❓ Can I write PHP code inside an HTML file?
✅ Yes, but you must change the file extension to .php for the server to execute the PHP code.

❓ What happens if I open a PHP file directly in a browser?
✅ If accessed via the file path (e.g., file:///C:/...), PHP won’t execute. Use http://localhost/... with a server like XAMPP or WAMP.

❓ Why is my PHP script not displaying anything?
✅ Check that:

You’re using echo or print
File extension is .php
The script is placed inside a web server root folder
No syntax errors exist

❓ Can I use print instead of echo?
✅ Yes, but echo is faster and preferred for output. print returns a value (1) which is rarely needed in this context.

❓ Should I include the ?> closing tag?
✅ In pure PHP files, it’s recommended to omit the closing tag to avoid unintended output issues.

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