Introduction To PHP

Static vs. Dynamic websites

A static website is created using HTML pages which have been written in a fixed way
to instruct the browser how to render the page. (What you see it what you get).

Static websites are used to display fixed information which most often does not need
to be updated on a regular basis.

As the Web evolved, sites became more complex and were expected to display
dynamic information which could not have been “hard coded” in HTML:

Search results
Number of visitors
User login
Message boards
Introduction To PHP
Dynamic websites

The solution was to generate the HTML “on-the-fly” based on parameters and
specifications.

For example, If a user asks to see search results, a unique page would be generated
specifically for him.

The user would get an HTML page, but an HTML page that was tailored made for
him.

Since there is no way of knowing every possible search result for every possible key
word, the final page is being assembled using a server-side script.

The server-side script constructs the page and then it is being sent back to the client.

This mean that the page result.html will look different each time based on the given
specifications.
Introduction To PHP
Dynamic websites

Every client makes a request for a page.

The server checks what the client has asked for and based on that constructs a page
for him based on an existing template.

The template is a page which contains HTML code and server-side code that will end
up as HTML code as well, but a different HTML each time.
Introduction To PHP
Three Tier Web Applications
Introduction To PHP
Dynamic Elements On A Page
Introduction To PHP

Benefits Of Dynamic Content

The ability to customize pages for any given user.

Greater ease of modification and update.

Extended functionality (login, transactions, communication etc.).

Automating the site and allowing it to support itself. Less pages to manually create.
Introduction To PHP
Server-Side Scripting

In order to generate dynamic pages we use a server-side scripting language.

There are different types of server-side scripting languages such as PHP, ASP,
ASP.NET, ColdFusion, JavaServer Pages, Perl and others.

Each scripting languages is being interpreted by an application, just as Flash is used

to make sense of ActionScript and have the code do things.

The application which interprets the server-side script is installed on the sever just like
any other application.
Introduction To PHP
Server-Side Scripting

Server-side scripting languages are also operating systems dependent.

PHP for example is being interpreted by an application called Apache which runs on a
UNIX operating system.

Each server-side scripting languages supports basic programming concepts such as

variables, arrays, functions, loops, conditional statement and others.

They also contain more specific elements such as special objects, commands used to
communicate with the server and a database and much more.
Introduction To PHP

Server-Side Scripting & Databases

When there is a need to store and retrieve information (user names, items in stock
etc.) a database will be used to contain the data.

Sever-side script can communicate to a database using a structured query language

(SQL) which manipulates the database (add, remove, update etc.)

More on that next week.

Introduction To PHP
What is PHP?

PHP stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor

PHP is a server-side scripting language, like ASP

PHP scripts are executed on the server

PHP supports many databases (MySQL, Informix, Oracle, Sybase, Solid,

PostgreSQL, Generic ODBC, etc.)

PHP is an open source software (OSS)

This means its free to use and isnʼt being controlled by a single entity.

It is being developed by a group of developers

PHP syntax resembles that of JavaScript and ActionScript in different ways.

PHP is free to download and use

Introduction To PHP
What is PHP?

PHP stands for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor

PHP is a server-side scripting language, like ASP

PHP scripts are executed on the server

PHP supports many databases (MySQL, Informix, Oracle, Sybase, Solid,

PostgreSQL, Generic ODBC, etc.)

PHP is an open source software (OSS)

This means its free to use and isnʼt being controlled by a single entity.
It is being developed by a group of developers

PHP syntax resembles that of JavaScript and ActionScript in different ways.

PHP is free to download and use

Introduction To PHP
What is PHP?
PHP files may contain text, HTML tags and scripts.

PHP files are returned to the browser as plain HTML.

PHP files have a file extension of ".php", ".php3", or ".phtml".

PHP can be written in any text editor.

PHP script will be located inside special tags, much like JavaScript
e.g. <?php //php script here ?>

PHP code can be located any where in the page.

PHP is case sensitive.

Every variable in PHP will have the $ symbol as a prefix

e.g. $myName =“John”;

Every line of code MUST be terminated with a ; symbol.

Introduction To PHP

What is MySQL?
MySQL is a small database server
MySQL is ideal for small and medium applications
MySQL supports standard SQL
MySQL compiles on a number of platforms
MySQL is free to download and use

PHP + MySQL
PHP combined with MySQL is cross-platform
(means that you can develop in Windows and serve on a Unix platform).
Introduction To PHP

Why PHP?
PHP runs on different platforms (Windows, Linux, Unix, etc.)

PHP is compatible with almost all servers used today (Apache, IIS, etc.)

PHP is FREE to download from the official PHP resource: www.php.net

PHP is easy to learn and runs efficiently on the server side

Introduction To PHP

What do You Need?

Hosting - www.media72.co.uk
You can use any hosting company you choose, but they must have at least:

1 SQL database & PHP

Code Editor - www.panic.com/coda

Ability to test locally - www.mamp.info