PHP is an open-source scripting language that can be executed on the webserver. Among other languages, this is widely-used and acknowledged by the developers. It’s totally free to download and use. At the present time, it has reached the apex of popularity for its dynamic features and easy accessibility.

Why PHP?

First of all, PHP is compatible with almost all servers today. Mostly, it fits with both Apache and IIS servers. A PHP file allows containing text, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, and PHP codes, which can be executed and the results returned into plain HTML on the web browser.

Secondly, it can generate a dynamic page that is not possible through HTML. PHP is well executable in the webserver. For example, it can create, open, write, read files on the server. Also, it can delete and choose files to upload from the local storage to the server. PHP is easy to use, compared to other languages, and also faster than ASP or JSP.

Moreover, this scripting language allows collecting form data. For additional purposes, cookies can be sent or received by PHP. It supports a wide range of databases, and PHP can add, delete, or modify data in databases.

Its predefined error reporting module gives an extra benefit where developers do not require to install any additional error reporting module to get error logs and warnings.

Features of PHP

PHP can perform almost everything related to server-side programming. As it contains at the backend of a webpage, it holds several unique features.

Easy to Use

PHP is very logical and well organized other than C or Pascal Language. People with a normal programming background can promptly understand this and it is also easy to learn for the newcomers. Availability of predefined functions are the main strength of PHP that allow the developers to create dynamic websites so smoothly with ensuring data protection.

Flexibility

As discussed earlier, PHP can be integrated with HTML, XML, CSS, Javascripts, and many more items for its flexible and embedded nature. Also, it can run on multiple operating systems like Windows, Mac OS, Linux, etc. Moreover, this runs well on any devices like computers, laptops, mobiles, tablets.

Apart from this, PHP comfortably supports a huge number of databases like MySQL, SQLite, Oracle, Sybase, Informix, PostgreSQL.

Frameworks and CMS

Users always find something that is easy and comfortable. Numbers of frameworks and CMS are developed using this scripting language, and people are using this across the world. Frameworks like Codeigniter, Zend Framework, CakePHP are made using PHP, and CMS like WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, etc are holding a large percentage of share in the web development world. These are also using PHP scripting language.

Community Support

PHP has a very rich and diverse developers community to help each other. As a result, new developers are growing and making the PHP family stronger. Volunteers from different corners of the world are contributing to the PHP library as well as developing new features.

Others

There are many other features like easy maintenance, third-party application support, real-time access monitoring, memory and CPU use information that help the PHP community build a strong basement for the developers.