Getting Started with PHP – A Complete Beginner’s Entry Point into PHP Development

Introduction – Why Learn PHP?

PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a powerful open-source scripting language that is especially suited for web development and can be embedded into HTML. Despite the rise of JavaScript frameworks, PHP still powers over 75% of the web, including WordPress, Facebook (early versions), and major CMS systems.

Whether you’re creating dynamic pages, managing databases, or handling forms, PHP offers simplicity, flexibility, and performance—making it a go-to choice for backend development.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What PHP is and how it evolved
• How to install, configure, and run your first PHP script
• Essential features and syntax of PHP
• Where to go next with quick tips and resources

Topics Covered in This Guide

1. PHP Introduction

PHP is a server-side scripting language designed specifically for web development but also used as a general-purpose language.

PHP is used to:

• Build dynamic and interactive websites
• Process form data
• Interact with databases (like MySQL, PostgreSQL)
• Create REST APIs
• Manage sessions and cookies

2. PHP History

PHP began in 1994 with Rasmus Lerdorf’s personal project to track visitors to his website. It evolved through several versions:

• PHP 3 (1998): Introduced the name “PHP”
• PHP 4 (2000): Added the Zend Engine
• PHP 5 (2004): Brought OOP and exceptions
• PHP 7 (2015): Major performance boost with new engine
• PHP 8 (2020): Introduced JIT and advanced features like attributes

3. PHP Features

PHP remains popular due to:

• Easy integration with HTML
• Cross-platform support (Windows, Linux, macOS)
• Massive ecosystem of CMS, frameworks, and tools
• Huge community support
• Built-in support for MySQL and other databases
• Rapid development with fewer lines of code

4. PHP Installation

You can install PHP:

• Windows: Use XAMPP, WAMP
• Mac: Use MAMP or Homebrew (brew install php)
• Linux: sudo apt install php (Debian/Ubuntu)

To verify:

php -v

This should display the PHP version installed.

5. PHP INI File Configuration

The php.ini file controls PHP’s core behavior:

Common settings:

• memory_limit: Max memory a script can use
• upload_max_filesize: Controls file upload limit
• display_errors: Show/hide error messages
• error_reporting: Controls error levels

Find it using:

php --ini

6. PHP Syntax

A PHP script begins with <?php and ends with ?>.

Example:

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

Rules:

• Statements end with ;
• Variables start with $
• Code is embedded into HTML pages

7. PHP Hello World

Here’s how to print a message in PHP:

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

Save it as index.php and run in a web server environment like XAMPP or WAMP.

8. PHP Quick Guide

Think of this as a future cheatsheet section with essentials like:

• Data types and variables
• Loops and conditionals
• Functions
• Array handling
• File operations

Coming Soon

9. PHP Useful Resources

• PHP Official Docs
• W3Schools PHP Tutorial
• PHP Reddit
• PHP The Right Way
• Codecademy, Udemy, and Coursera PHP Courses

10. PHP Discussion

Join the community:

• Stack Overflow – PHP
• Reddit r/php
• Dev.to – PHP Tag

Ask questions, share your projects, and learn from others.

Summary – Recap & Next Steps

PHP is beginner-friendly, mature, and powerful enough for enterprise applications. Learning PHP opens doors to full-stack development and CMS customization.

Key Takeaways:

• PHP is embedded in HTML and runs on the server
• Easy to install and configure with tools like XAMPP/MAMP
• PHP syntax is simple but expressive
• Great community and learning resources available

Real-World Relevance:
PHP remains a dominant language in web development, used in content management systems like WordPress and frameworks like Laravel.

FAQ – Getting Started with PHP

Is PHP outdated in 2025?
No, PHP remains relevant with PHP 8 and is widely used in CMS, APIs, and enterprise applications.

Do I need to know HTML/CSS before PHP?
Basic understanding of HTML helps since PHP is embedded in HTML.

What’s the best way to test PHP locally?
Use XAMPP/WAMP/MAMP or Docker to create a local server environment.

Is PHP free to use?
Yes, PHP is completely open-source and free.