What Is PHP

What is PHP?

• PHP (recursive acronym 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
• PHP is free to download and use

What is a PHP File?

• PHP files can 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"

What is MySQL?

• MySQL is a database server
• MySQL is ideal for both small and large 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 are cross-platform (you can develop in Windows and serve on a Unix platform)

1. Installing a Webserver with PHP and MySQL (XAMPP in Windows)

Installing a Webserver with PHP and MySQL (XAMPP in Windows) :

• Installing XAMPP in Windows
• XAMPP is a cumulative package consisting of Apache, PHP and MySQL Packages is available both for windows and linux
• In this tutorial the XAMPP will be installed and the default webserver directry will be "htdocs".

Xampp Download :

http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html

2. Echo PHP Function, PHP Variables, If and Switch Statements

Echo Function :

• The echo() function outputs one or more strings.
• Syntax: echo(strings);
• Ex. echo "Hello World!";

http://pastebin.com/b9xc54uc

Variables in PHP :

• Variables are used for storing values, like text strings, numbers or arrays.
• When a variable is declared, it can be used over and over again in your script.
• All variables in PHP start with a $ sign symbol.
• The correct way of declaring a variable in PHP: $var_name = value;

http://pastebin.com/aBkwyB4K

 If Statement :

• if statement - use this statement to execute some code only if a specified condition is true.
• if...else statement - use this statement to execute some code if a condition is true and another code if the condition is false.
• if...elseif....else statement - use this statement to select one of several blocks of code to be executed.

http://pastebin.com/WQMGVtjz

Switch Statement :

• switch statement - use this statement to select one of many blocks of code to be executed

http://pastebin.com/mGngHSsq

3. PHP Operators

Arithmatic Operators :

• Ex. +,-,*,/,%,++,--

http://pastebin.com/VBXuG5xT

Comparison Operators :

• Ex. ==,!=,<>,>,<,>=,<=

http://pastebin.com/eBgcTdVv

Logical Operators :

• Ex. && (AND),|| (OR),! (NOT)

http://pastebin.com/h1ESjRqX

4. Arrays in PHP

Arrays :

• An array stores multiple values in one single variable.
• Numeric array - An array with a numeric index.
• Associative array - An array where each ID key is associated with a value.
• Ex. Numeric Array: $fruits=array("Apple","Mango","Banana","Grapes");

http://pastebin.com/SwJH96b1

Multi-Dimensional Arrays :

• In a multidimensional array, each element in the main array can also be an array. And each element in the sub-array can be an array, and so on.

http://pastebin.com/eVEF0WZM