Short for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor, an open source, server-side, HTML embedded scripting language used to create dynamic Web pages.
In an HTML document, PHP script (similar syntax to that of Perl or C ) is enclosed within special PHP tags. Because PHP is embedded within tags, the author can jump between HTML and PHP (similar to ASP and Cold Fusion) instead of having to rely on heavy amounts of code to output HTML. And, because PHP is executed on the server, the client cannot view the PHP code.
PHP can perform any task that any CGI program can do, but its strength lies in its compatibility with many types of databases. Also, PHP can talk across networks using IMAP, SNMP, NNTP, POP3, or HTTP.
It is also used to power some of the most popular software such as blogging tools like WordPress and Joomla as well as Ecommerce Shopping carts like OpenCart and Prestashop and Bulletin Board tools like PHPBB and vBulletin.
PHP can also be used to add extra functionality to your website by integrating applications built for 3rd party websites such as Facebook or by creating PHP based mailing lists or you can even create WordPress Plugins for commercial use.
PHP was created sometime in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. During mid 1997, PHP development entered the hands of other contributors. Two of them, Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans, rewrote the parser from scratch to create PHP version 3 (PHP3).
PHP is quickly becoming a very popular scripting language. More information on PHP can be found on the official website, located at.... http://www.php.net On their website, you can find a listing on all PHP functions, libraries, example scripts, a mailing list for developers, and other useful information.
