Scripting languages such as PHP are widely used for web development and business applications. PHP is used in the end-to-end computing infrastructure of some of today’s biggest web platforms, including Facebook, Flickr, Yahoo, MailChimp, and Wikipedia.
The Benefits of Learning PHP
In 1995, Danish-Canadian programmer Rasmus Lerdorf released PHP, which stands for “Hypertext Processor.” You can easily embed PHP scripts into HTML documents.
The flexibility and versatility of PHP are among its most appealing features. A PHP program runs almost like an object-oriented language, making it very convenient to work with. Developers can also use a meta-language.
It is easier to run PHP by installing Docker and using a container that includes PHP.
Common eight web applications that can be created with PHP
- Websites and web-based applications
A PHP script can be used to create a static or dynamic web page or to build a web application. As one of the most popular programming languages, PHP supports user authentication, query building, CSRF protection, and routing. PHP is used for server-side programming on more than 82% of websites.
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
Developers can manipulate content on a website using templates and libraries offered by many PHP frameworks. PHP-based content management systems include WordPress, Joomla, Facebook, MediaWiki, Silverstripe, and Digg.
- Applications for e-commerce
Any business’s growth depends on online sales, and PHP is used in e-commerce platforms such as Magento, OpenCart, Zen Cart, PrestaShop, AgoraCart, and Ubercart. E-commerce applications can be easily and quickly created with PHP frameworks like CakePHP.
- Image processing
There are a variety of image processing libraries that can be integrated with PHP applications, like Imagine, GD library, and ImageMagick. The program allows you to rotate, crop, resize, add watermarks, generate thumbnails, and create output images in many different formats.
- Applications for Graphical User Interface (GUI)
The PHP-GTK 2 and ZZEE PHP GUI are two popular tools that allow PHP scripting. These tools compile PHP into standalone .exes.
- Representation of data
Using tools such as Image_Graph, PHP can create charts, graphs, and scatter-dot plots to represent data. Various applications where data must be presented succinctly and graphically use this feature, such as client-side e-commerce websites and desktop applications.
- Integration of Flash elements
It features elements such as gradients, bitmaps (.png and .jpeg files), morphs, text, shapes, buttons, actions, and animations. Many PHP frameworks provide an open-source library, like Ming, that creates Flash in the. SWF format. PHP makes it easy to integrate flash elements into dynamic web pages, such as login forms and email forms.
- PDF files creation
Beginner programmers can easily learn PHP by embedding it with HTML. HTML pages can be generated with PHP without complex processes, unlike languages such as C or Java. With PHP, it is possible to generate and manipulate PDF files using a built-in library tool.
Getting a Job in PHP
A PHP Developer designs, tests, and develops websites, applications, and programs using the PHP programming language. PHP ranks among the five most popular programming languages today. Visual Studio and Xcode provide strong PHP support as part of the integrated development environments (IDEs).
The field of PHP development requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or programming. There are some skills required to get a job as a PHP developer, like knowledge of PHP, Ajax, jQuery, MySQL, JavaScript, CSS, HTML, Unix/Linux, Photoshop, or similar design tools, etc.
