| Chances are that if you've been around the Internet | | | | relatively slow CGI scripts. |
| long enough, you've heard of server-side scripting | | | | In addition to its scalability and speed, another |
| languages such as PERL, ASP and ColdFusion. These | | | | usability factor that sets PHP apart is its ease of use. |
| are all popular languages that are used to add | | | | The PHP language is considered to be a mix between |
| interactivity to Web sites, but one stands out from | | | | C and PERL, and it draws from the best features of |
| the crowd in terms of usability, power, and, yes, | | | | each parent language, while adding unique features of |
| price: the PHP scripting language. Initially developed in | | | | its own. For example, PHP code can be embedded |
| 1995 by North Carolina programmer Rasmus Lerdorf, | | | | within standard HTML documents without using |
| PHP has since blossomed into one of the leading | | | | additional print statements or calling separate scripts |
| open-source, cross-platform scripting languages | | | | to perform the processing tasks. In practice, this |
| available. This is due, in large part, to the worldwide | | | | allows for very flexible programming practices. |
| community of coders that contributes to its | | | | Although a working knowledge of HTML is a |
| development. Unlike proprietary scripting languages | | | | prerequisite for PHP development, PHP's basic |
| like ASP and ColdFusion, PHP's source code is freely | | | | functions can be learned quickly and applied to a wide |
| available for peer review and contributions. This is, of | | | | range of common Webmaster-related projects, such |
| course, the essence of open-source software | | | | as order forms, e-mail responses, and interactive |
| development, but why is it that PHP in particular has | | | | Web pages. |
| gained such popularity among Web developers when | | | | Contributing to the power of the PHP language, is its |
| there are other open-source alternatives, such as | | | | native support for leading relational database |
| good old-fashioned PERL CGI scripts? | | | | platforms, including MySQL, Oracle and PostgreSQL. |
| One very strong reason is that PHP, unlike PERL CGI | | | | Platform-specific functions are built into the language |
| scripts, is scalable and fast. Instead of requiring the | | | | for 12 databases in all. This native support for |
| server to start a new process in the operating | | | | database platforms is a boon to any site that needs |
| system's kernel for each new request, which uses | | | | to track user information, store product data, or |
| both CPU time and memory, PHP can run as a part | | | | collect sales information. |
| of the Web server itself, which saves a considerable | | | | Last but not least, because PHP is open-source, it is |
| amount of processing time when dealing with multiple | | | | essentially free to use. Almost all professional |
| requests. This decreased processing time means that | | | | Unix-based Web hosts offer PHP as an included |
| PHP can be used for high-traffic sites that cannot | | | | option with hosting accounts. Be sure to check with |
| afford to have their performance hampered by | | | | your host to see if it is available to you. |