Table of Contents:
Introduction to PHP – Learn PHP from Scratch with Practical Examples
Welcome to your complete beginner’s guide to PHP. Whether you are starting your journey into web development or planning to become a backend developer, this tutorial will help you understand the foundation of PHP — one of the most widely used programming languages for dynamic websites.
At PHPOnline.in, we aim to make PHP simple, engaging, and job-ready for learners across all levels.
What you will Learn
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What is PHP?
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History of PHP
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Why Learn PHP in 2025?
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Key Features of PHP
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Installing PHP on Your Computer
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Running Your First PHP Script
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PHP Syntax Explained
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PHP Variables and Data Types
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PHP Comments
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PHP Constants
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PHP Operators
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Control Structures
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Introduction to Functions
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PHP and HTML Integration
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Real-World Use Cases
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PHP in CMS and Frameworks
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PHP in Comparison with Other Languages
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Tips for Beginners
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What’s Next?
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FAQ
What is PHP?
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) is a server-side scripting language designed for web development. It can be embedded within HTML and is used to manage dynamic content, databases, session tracking, and even build entire e-commerce sites.
✅ PHP is open-source and powers over 75% of websites, including WordPress, Wikipedia, and Facebook components.
History of PHP
PHP was created in 1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. Initially named “Personal Home Page”, it evolved into PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor and became a full-fledged programming language by PHP 3 in 1998.
Today, with versions like PHP 8.3, it offers powerful features like:
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Just-in-Time Compilation (JIT)
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Attributes (Annotations)
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Match expressions
🔗 Related: PHP Version Guide
Why Learn PHP in 2025?
Many wonder — is PHP still worth learning?
Absolutely! Here’s why:
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Widely Used: Over 3 billion websites use PHP
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Job Opportunities: Thousands of companies need PHP developers
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CMS Platforms: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla are PHP-based
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Simplicity: Easy to get started
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Strong Community: Millions of active users
🔗 Read: Is PHP Still Relevant?
Key Features of PHP
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Open Source
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Platform Independent
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Fast Execution
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Database Integration (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
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Supports OOP
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Secure and Flexible
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Rich Framework Support (Laravel, Symfony)
Installing PHP on Your Computer
Tools Required
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XAMPP / WAMP / MAMP (for local development)
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Text Editor (VS Code, Notepad++, Sublime)
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Browser (Chrome, Firefox)
Steps to Install XAMPP:
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Download from apachefriends.org
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Install XAMPP
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Start Apache server
-
Place your
.php
files in thehtdocs
folder
🔗 Step-by-step: Install PHP with XAMPP
Running Your First PHP Script
Explanation:
-
<?php
opens PHP mode -
echo
prints output -
Statements end with
;
Run this file in your browser using:
http://localhost/hello.php
PHP Syntax Explained
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PHP scripts start with
<?php
and end with?>
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Statements end with a semicolon
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PHP is case-insensitive for keywords (like
echo
,if
) -
Case-sensitive for variables (
$Var1
≠$var1
)
PHP Variables and Data Types
Syntax
Data Types
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String:
$name = "PHP";
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Integer:
$age = 20;
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Float:
$price = 10.5;
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Boolean:
$isOpen = true;
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Array:
$fruits = ["Apple", "Banana"];
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Object: Created from classes
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NULL: Represents no value
🔗 Explore more: PHP Variables and Constants
PHP Comments
Comments are ignored by the PHP interpreter and used to explain code logic.
PHP Constants
Constants cannot be changed once defined.
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Defined using
define()
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Global scope
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Case-sensitive by default
PHP Operators
Types:
-
Arithmetic:
+
,-
,*
,/
,%
-
Assignment:
=
,+=
,-=
-
Comparison:
==
,!=
,>
,<
-
Logical:
&&
,||
,!
Control Structures
Used to make decisions and loops.
Loops:
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for
,while
,do-while
,foreach
Introduction to Functions
Functions allow code reusability:
PHP and HTML Integration
PHP integrates directly with HTML to build dynamic websites.
Real-World Use Cases
PHP is used for:
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Contact Forms
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User Authentication
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E-commerce Backends
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CMS Development
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API Integration
PHP in CMS and Frameworks
CMS Platforms:
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WordPress
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Drupal
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Magento
Frameworks:
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Laravel
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CodeIgniter
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Symfony
🔗 Related: PHP Frameworks Compared
PHP vs Other Languages
Feature | PHP | Python | Node.js |
---|---|---|---|
Server-Side | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Syntax | Easy | Beginner | Moderate |
Performance | Moderate | High | Very High |
Hosting Cost | Low | Medium | High |
Tips for Beginners
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Practice every day
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Build small projects
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Read PHP documentation
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Join PHP communities (Reddit, Stack Overflow)
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Use version control (Git)
What’s Next?
After learning the basics, explore:
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PHP with MySQL
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Object-Oriented PHP
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PHP Security
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Laravel or WordPress Development
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Build a CRUD Project
🔗 Start here: PHP with MySQL Course
FAQ – Introduction to PHP
Q1. What is PHP?
PHP is a server-side scripting language used to build dynamic web pages and web applications.
Q2. Is PHP hard to learn?
No. PHP has a simple and readable syntax that is beginner-friendly.
Q3. Can PHP run on Windows?
Yes. PHP works on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Q4. Is PHP free to use?
Yes, PHP is completely free and open-source.
Q5. Can PHP connect to databases?
Absolutely. PHP supports multiple databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, etc.